ALDERSON, W.Va. (Hinton News) – Tracy Allen, a national award-winning pianist and classically trained musician, has graced West Virginia from her early days of practicing at 9 years of age in Beckley to Gap Mills to Lewisburg and then to Alderson in 1995. She will be performing a concert for one hour, including a short intermission, “Mendelssohn, Mozart and Mail,” at VILLA JOY, 204 Davis Street, Alderson, at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20. Suggested donation is $20 per person.
As a graduate, madrigal, and choir accompanist for Greenbrier East High School as well as accompanist to Methodist church choirs since the age of 14, Allen has lots of family and friends eager to hear her perform some secular music. Having entered many local talent shows and one national piano competition through the years, Allen took first place in two competitions and placed in all others.
Allen says, “Fran Belin, of Lewisburg, who studied at The Julliard School, instilled most of my discipline.” With the challenges of working full time for 21 years as a mail carrier, accompanying the present Sunday congregation at Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church in Alderson, finding time to practice, plus creating bright and cheery artwork for local festivals, Allen is a purposeful woman. Sophie Pace, Founder and Director of VILLA JOY, says, “I feel lucky to be able to have Tracy on the billing.”
Chopin is Allen’s favorite composer and she will be adding Mendelssohn, Bach, Mozart and other surprises to the first official House Concert at VILLA JOY, the luscious, surprising and eclectic studio, gallery, connecting, and gathering space that opened on May 3, 2023, on Davis Street in Alderson.
VILLA JOY is located in a converted storage space attached to a workshop created by Pace who has lived in Alderson as an artist and writer since her full-time arrival in 2021 from Cleveland, Ohio, where she was born and raised.
Many local folks have had a hand in saying “yes” to this new out-of-the-way experience in Alderson by helping create the space. The intimate yet practical gathering space continues to transform through ideas and needs. Drumming circles are beginning to happen, the next one being on Thursday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m.
Along with making practice space available for free, there are art supplies to use at no charge as well as hot water for tea, coffee and hot chocolate that can ease one’s way into time to sit, chat and share stories…all during normal hours on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. or by appointment.
Limited inside seating is available for the one-hour concert by Tracy Allen beginning at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 20. Beverages and snacks are included in the suggested $20 donation. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for outside seating. Pace said, “I am so excited to present this inaugural concert. I hope there will be many more to come.”
