Greatness
The Daily Citizen
April 8, 2008
By Dennis Bennett

"Teresa Walters…Greatness Touched"

"As I listened to her repertoire of great composers and allowed her music flowing from that ebony grand piano to waft over me as a gentle breeze, I remembered concerts in Athens, New York, Cleveland, Rome, London, Ankara and Munich. I remembered the feelings that overwhelmed me every time I was privileged to hear or to witness greatness and the finer things in life."

"How to start this column? Should I share with you the money you could have saved? Should it be about a fantastic experience you missed? Or should it be the contact with greatness you missed?
Now the you is not all of you, because many enthralled people on April 3 saved money, enjoyed a fantastic experience, and felt a contact with greatness. But for you who missed it, let me go on.

Many of us have gone to the big city to take in the high level of entertainment and arts, because it is hard to find in small town America. If the big city is Dallas, St. Louis or Memphis, the ticket price would approach $300. And these don't even suggest New York, London, or Paris, where it has cost me as much as $500 for an evening.

I have always enjoyed contact with greatness. It was fully present at the Parthenon in Athens, in the room with Presidents Reagan and Kennedy, listening in person to Ella Fitzgerald, and attending every symphony from the very first time with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. I have missed that kind of contact since finally settling down in one small town. But thanks to a hardworking, energetic neighbor, I got all of the above when a world-renowned artist came to our area and we were able to enjoy the finer things in life the form of one of the world's finest pianists, Teresa Walters.

As I listened to her repertoire of great composers and allowed her music flowing from that ebony grand piano to waft over me as a gentle breeze, I remembered concerts in Athens, New York, Cleveland, Rome, London, Ankara and Munich. I remembered the feelings that overwhelmed me every time I was privileged to hear or to witness greatness and the finer things in life.

My neighbor is Harding University, and I have enjoyed their efforts every time I get the chance. This year's Classical Lyceum Series was just one more opportunity. If Harding is your neighbor, then join me while we visit the finer things of life right her in our own backyard. Let the like of Teresa Walters transport you to a higher plain as they share their talent. Just to watch her fingers glide over the keys sending forth the beautiful works of Bach, Rachmaninoff and Liszt is to be in another place. Thank You, Teresa Walters, for the experience enjoyed and the greatness touched."