​How many of you "believe" in Serendipity? I would love to share an amazing story about me and my Mother with you, that still gives me goosebumps of joy and wonder and love.

Wikipedia tells us that "Serendipity is a fortunate happenstance"- not just a matter of a random event, nor can it be taken simply as a synonym for "a happy accident". It is evidently one of the hardest words to translate in our language, such is its wide-ranging meaning.

I think that the serendipitous can play an important role in the search for truth. It has for me, time and time again.

The New Oxford Dictionary of English defines serendipity as "the occurrence and development of events by chance in a satisfactory or beneficial way, understanding the chance as any event that takes place in the absence of any obvious project (randomly or accidentally), which is not relevant to any present need, or in which the cause is unknown."

The first noted use of "serendipity" (meaning pleasant surprise) in the English language was by Horace Walpole (1717–1797). In a letter (1754) he said he formed it from the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip, whose heroes "were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of". The name stems from Serendip, an old name for Sri Lanka (Ceylon).
Serendipity is a capacity. The Nobel Prize laureate Paul Flory suggests that significant incidents are not mere accidents.

Several years ago, after the death of my mother, I inherited a ring with 3 diamonds. I cherished that ring. A year later, I looked down, and to my horror discovered that the central diamond was missing. I retraced my steps, but to no avail. I gave up in dismay, and resigned myself to a careless tragedy. I was heartbroken, not only for me, but for the legacy of my mother, and also for the meaningfulness for my own daughters, bereft of family heirlooms that they, too would inherit, and the deeper love and meaning that is transferred upon gifting of such treasures.

Soon, I shall be embarking upon a trip to my "homeland". It is no surprise that, although I have adopted Australian shores and even have become an Aussie citizen, that I am a "Born in the USA" girl through-and-through. My heart is in Georgia, and always will be. I find a resonance when I am in the Deep South.

In a month, I will be traveling to the USA, taking my youngest daughter Raiyah Paine to introduce her to the "clan", and also traveling with my dear Bob Halstead. He, too, will meet as many of my relatives (on both sides of my family), as we can fit into three glorious weeks on both sides of my great country!

Well- it is also not a great secret that for a few long years (that seemed they would never end) I also went through a big trial, and faced many challenges that threatened my spirit of loving life, adventure, people and places. That particular difficult time is behind me now, and I have never been happier. I am finally, getting "Leigh" back, and I feel more grounded in who I am than ever before in my life.

So.....just yesterday, after the USA tickets had been confirmed, I was here, in my bedroom, enjoying my first cup of coffee. I reminisced, and took a cherished photograph off my bedside table. It is a photograph of my Mother, Katy (Catherine Bradley Walker), radiant in her beauty. She is one of my heroes. My dad is my other. I clutched her photo, and the tears gushed as I told her that her daughter was "going home again." I told her I was happy now, and there had recently been closure on incidents that had hurt me in the past. I told her I was happy, and that I was moving on. I told her that I would be ok. (She had always known that, but it felt good to tell her myself, and out loud.). I told her that her youngest granddaughter was going "home" with me too, and that Bob was coming to meet all the Aunts and my dearest, loving "crazy cousins!" She was a receptive audience- Mother always looked regal, even in her most casual times! I felt she was REALLY there with me, and was, somehow hearing me. Maybe I am also a "crazy" cousin! But it felt good, and the tears were healing and gentle. I dried my eyes - (after all, another cup of coffee was in order....), and I jumped out of bed, feeling on top of the world, and happier than I can remember at the thought that we were going "home" again soon.

I went into my ensuite, and saw the turquoise scarf that Mother had bought me the one and only time that she had visited my family here in Australia. We had selected it after a perfect day together in Palm Cove, seven years ago. I had just worn it for the first time since her death. I was annoyed it had fallen to the bathroom floor overnight. As I bent to pick it up, I noticed a glint.

There was Mother's missing diamond.

Serendipity? You decide.
​
Mother, I am coming HOME again! I know that's your way of telling me how happy you are for us!
Can't wait to see Y'ALL! California, Georgia, Alabama and Florida, look out, we have our tickets and here we come! Love you all.

When I learned last week that my faithful studio pianist for many years in annual exams was suddenly whisked to the hospital for emergency surgery, my heart went out to Larry for a swift and sure recovery. It left me with a rather last minute dilemma. No accompanist for my string students. Exams loomed.

With only a month to go before exams, the rehearsal time with the pianist becomes crucial. How amazing therefore, that on the very same day that Larry had to cancel, I received a call from dear piano colleague Bill Doolan Kevin Scott. He had moved down to the Gold Coast last year and I thought he was well settled there. How wonderful to get his call saying he was moving back to Cairns and did I have any piano accompaniment work in my studio! Talk about serendipity!

We started working with my students last week and continued today with intensive rehearsals with all the kids from 9am til 6:00 tonight. Kevin is a blessing to the studio and a delight to work with. The day was full, but a day full of music and doing what we love never exhausts us- rather, it fuels us to want more! So....during our brief lunch break, when I suggested to Kevin that we sight read one of my latest favorite tunes, he readily obliged.

I have always adored the swing and croon music of this era a la Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Sarah Vaughan, and of course Ella Fitzgerald. A few months ago I first heard this Hoagy Carmichael tune and fell in love with it's lilt and poignant chord transitions. We had Kyrene Mei Paine record us as we sight read in one raw take, and other than one slightly dodgy "e" that morphed into the more appropriate 'e' flat, ( this is show biz after all and we think we deserve a bit of jazz-inspired artistic License) we think Hoagy might have approved.

So -this is a hearty thank you to dear Kevin for rescuing my studio from our no -pianist emergency, as well as a huge welcome back to my friends! It was bliss to be able to communicate through the music and just well, do what we do.

Here then, as performed on my new French acquisition "The Lily" , is our rendition of the gorgeous song 
"I Get Along Without You Very Well"

But dear Bob Halstead as I know you know the lyrics , you will understand how much I really DO miss you!

I remember my parents playing me this recording of the "Violin King" when I was about 6 years old, and being amazed at how easy it all sounded! If only I knew......as my professor Gingold used to say, "When Heifetz walked in the room, any other violinists might as well start packing up their violins. There was no point to even try to match him!" Hora Stacatto is known for its up and down bow stacattos, and Heifetz plays each way with equal bravura. Sigh! Time for bed!

When Legendary Artist David Bowie died, I too was devastated by the news. You see- I met David Bowie myself, way back in December, 1983, when I was a first violinist in the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra!

Bowie was on the Serious Moonlight World Tour, one of his biggest and most successful. The final two nights of the tour were in Hong Kong, in the colossal Coliseum. My HK Philharmonic was the accompanying orchestra on stage. I had only recently arrived in the city the previous September, freshly out of my Graduate Degree at Indiana University School of Music, and beyond thrilled to take on my first permanent professional orchestral job.

Hong Kong in the early '80s was cacophony- a riot of neon, skyscrapers, shoulder pads, bustle, traffic, the best cuisine on the planet, night markets, obscene assaults of color, sound, smells, bodies and energy. Hong Kong was relentless, yet perfect for my wide-eyed 22 years of eagerness. I relished the new shock of every sensation the city and my job had to offer- I was independent, proud, and ALIVE!

Imagine, then, my astounded reaction when I learned that we select musicians would be accompanying the Icon at the conclusion of his World Tour. Speechless? Yes. In Awe? Yes.
We arrived at the Coliseum on the afternoon of his first performance, ready for rehearsal. We loved seeing the all-white grand piano on stage. The members of Bowie's touring band, who we were supporting by adding the strings, winds, and brass sections, greeted us. I was star-struck and the Man himself wasn't even on stage yet! Would he even appear? Maybe the band would just take us through the set order and the changes. That was not uncommon for artists of Bowie's stature. Then he could have appeared only at the Show, and the fans would be none the wiser. But- No! There he was!

Laughter erupted from a seat in the cavernous auditorium. It was HIM! David leapt up to the stage, swinging up on his arms and skipping the stage stairs. Dressed impeccably in a pure white suit, hair bleached and coiffed, grinning and eyes twinkling. In his oh-so-English accent, he said hello. He thanked us for being a part of this historic tour. He sat at the piano and motioned to begin. As we struck the opening chords, "Scary Monsters", something was not to his liking. He stopped us, and began schooling us, ever-so-politely, in what effect he wanted. Oh my! It dawned on me that he must have Perfect Pitch. He was plucking obscure notes out of the air, time after time, without first referencing his pitch on the piano. He never missed or dropped a note. I too, have perfect pitch. It is s blessing and a curse! It means if I am reading a score and it is being played in a different key than what is notated, I go crazy!

Anyway, noting that Bowie was so incredibly musical when singing live (because the recording studio can famously hide a multitude of musical sins), I vowed to myself that I would somehow pluck up the courage to say hello and thank you right back to him at the break.

I did not know if my idea would work, as it is all-too-customary for famous artists of any genre to disappear in hiding to the Green Room as soon as there is a break in rehearsal. Sometimes artists are whisked away by their minders or agents.

December 7, 1983, was however my lucky day. The conductor left the stage for a tea break. Bowie stayed right where he was- at his piano.
I sidled sideways towards him, not wanting the embarrassment of rebuttal so trying to make my approach random. I must have been a sight! What ELSE could I have possibly been heading towards? The podium next to the piano?

Bowie smiled. He smiled AT ME. OH MY GOD!
He patted the spot next to him on the piano stool. "Come- sit and join me- I'm too tired to get up!"
I went through the motions as any 22 year old in shock might do. There I was. David Bowie and I were- well, "cheek to cheek"!

I said "hello" and he told me he loved the violin, as an instrument, which I was clutching. My knuckles were red from squeezing it so hard! He said he loved the sound of the violin but instead, at his Boy's Grammar School in England, been made to learn the flute. Having been an excellent choir boy,
he later took up sax and piano.

"Excuse me, Sir, but I believe you have perfect pitch"! "Yes, you must too, to be able to tell! Looks like you and I were not destined for the Cricket Pitch"! He chuckled at his joke. I sat frozen. Did he notice? What will my Mother say when I tell her?
It is a strange sensation, when one is so close to a famous celebrity, what odd mannerisms we adopt. I have met many other celebrities in my life, and over the years have learned (only slightly) how to relax and be more natural. But that day I know Mr. Bowie's gracious charm and gentle manner won me over completely. The best thing, that stands out in my mind even today, is that not once did he make me feel uneasy or out of place. He never made me feel inferior. I was his musical colleague on stage, and no matter I was green and young, I was treated with such polite kindness.

We continued chatting until gradually, my fellow musicians trickled back on stage. Bowie asked me about my home in Georgia, and how I liked new life in HK. "We have more than music in common, Leigh- you see, I share your love affair with all things Asian." "Cherish this time of your youth and your musical journey. You have already embraced life by coming here to a new job on the other side of the world. Live it- Love it-Enjoy It." I asked him how he liked the Touring Life. He responded- and I will never forget it- that "Tours are not about fame and fortune. Tours are chances to take our art- our love of music- to the people. We would be nothing without the people. If we cannot be human with them, why would we expect them to buy our albums, attend our concerts? I love interaction. I love people. " I also was amazed at his humility, in including me in his sentiments, by saying "our" and "we". As in "we musicians". That was the gift Bowie had. It was obvious why he was so popular. Artistry, consummate musicianship, compassion, and that bright spark.

That's it. And then, in a flash, I was back near the front of the First Violins. My stand partner poked me with her bow and gasped. "Oh my! What was he like? We had no idea he would stay on stage and that anyone could TALK to him!"

"What was he like"? I responded- "A complete gentleman- and funny too. "

We played two shows together. I'm sure I played all my notes brighter and better since our chance meeting. I was on cloud nine. On the second night. backstage, David gave me a big hug.

I didn't faint. But I shook all the way home!
I wanted to tell my story immediately after I learned the news of his death, but have had to wait until my pain from surgery subsided. I have been resting at home and recovering, and started thinking about those memories of sharing a stage with him. I remembered that his tour managers made a short film about his trip to Hong Kong- and, after a quick Google search, I found the film!

The film is eclectic and kinky and magic- just like Bowie. It somehow captures the essence of HK in the 80's, and evidently Bowie wanted the short film made to document his deep joy of the city and the culture and the people of HK. If you have a spare 15 minutes, enjoy. I loved it, as it brought a flood of memories of a great city - my fav on earth- at a great time.

You can just spot me, there on stage in his final show, as Bowie raises his blonde tresses skywards and starts the first few notes of his tribute and thank you to Hong Kong- his rendition of "China Girl".

I'm near the very end of this short film. I'm on the left in the violin section - the blonde glint of my hair is visible as I play my heart out in the spotlights as the camera pans out wide angle. I also found a better clip of the orchestra, when Bowie sings Lennon's "Imagine" in tribute. I'll post that clip in the comments section.
​
Bowie you were great. Bravo forever!

The real reason we raced to Brisbane! Remember last year,when Bob's dear Mum,Lily passed away? And the brothers bought me the great violin, found at last minute through serendipitous love, which I had loan of and had performed a "cadenza to Lily" on at her funeral?

That violin has now been mine for nearly a year and I adore her. I named the violin "Lily" in tribute to the great lady. She is an incredible fiddle to play- powerful, gutsy, rich and sonorous, full of projection and depth. The tonal colors and clarity of sound across all the registers make her my violin of choice now.

When we acquired the violin, we were told by Andrew of JBP violins that she had been sold to him by a soloist. The soloist had a provenance for the instrument. She was French, late 1800-early 1900s, and was thought to be by a certain French master. The soloist had papers on her from J & A Beareof London-the king of violin dealers- identifying the violin and definitively linking her to a certain special French craftsman. But these papers had been lost over the decades. This meant that she was now "attributed to".

Bob Halstead and I had raced to Beare's in London to join the missing links in the story, but missed their open doors by an hour! So- I had brought Lily home- overjoyed to perform on her for the year- but none the wiser as to whether or not she might be a "fake". This practice is rife in the violin antique industry, and so one has to be cautious and never too gullible in believing a dealer.

When we just missed Beare's, I contacted them with professional photos of my Violin, and nevertheless got a provisional opinion. They needed to see the violin in person-and recommended I also contact Brompton's Fine Musical Instruments division, also in London, which is considered the second most respected source worldwide after Beare's of valid and truthful information on a violin's provenance, valid authenticity, and origins. Brompton's valuer Tom became very excited indeed about The Lily-based on photos only. Brompton's too, would need to hold the violin to determine the truth.

I assumed Lily's origins would stay questionable indefinitely as no return trip to London was planned. I resigned myself to being happy she was a great SOUNDING violin, and, to a player, that is enough.

But serendipity (here we go again!) had other ideas! Just as we were leaving Thailand, Brompton's emailed me. Their SENIOR valuer, Peter Horner, was traveling on a world tour to sight violins, and was coming through Australia. He was very interested in the photos of my violin, and wished to see Lily in person. He was including Brisbane in his tour- would I be interested in bringing my violin down and getting an internationally respected professional opinion? Are you kidding? OF COURSE I WOULD!

I flew down with anticipation and trepidation. What if she WAS a fake? What if the story was false? We met Peter Horner on Sunday afternoon in his hotel suite. I was still anxious; Peter was enthralled. No time for small talk- he wanted to make a beeline for my case! We opened her suede case up. "That's a beautiful violin indeed." He lifted her out, and examined the scroll , purfling around the edges, and back. I couldn't keep holding my breath- come on!
" She IS French. She IS by an old master luthier. She IS over 120 years old! " I started breathing again. He got out his pen laser light and his eyeglass magnifier. "No discernible definitive markings inside, but some slight crackling to the varnish." Peter gave his definitive assessment. "She is definitely not a fake or a modern violin antiqued to look old. She can still be named as "attributed to"".

He wants me to send photos now to the worldwide expert on French violins, based in Paris. She is getting closer to having her provenance authenticated. At least I now know that my Lily has the pedigree we suspected. She is not some modern upstart! If you have an interest or want to look him up, meet Lily's maker:

" A fine French master violin, ca 1899, attributed to Sebastian Auguste Deroux of Paris".

I am elated!

In further serendipity- British world expert Peter Horner told me that he met and was friends and colleagues with my great violin professor -the esteemed Josef Gingold- and first met him during the exact same time I was a Gingold student at Indiana University!

Afterwards, to top off the great violin story, Bob and I continued our weekend with a special visit to an extraordinary man. Meet Dr. David Schlect. He is an oncology specialist and co-author with Dr Damian Mason , of a brilliant book- "Hope" - A Cancer Doctor's Life Secrets".

Bob had to go along for his annual checkup, so I was thrilled and honored to meet David! We met at his Genesis Clinic in Churmside, and I had my beloved Lily violin with me. David loves classical music, and so he invited me to play for him and the patients recovering from day surgery on the Ward. I lifted her out, as David wanted to see her. I started to play, and all the nurses, doctors and admin workers rushed out to join us! One dear man, groggy from treatments, said he loved my performance and it made his day! (I told him I might have to play a very long time before anyone might offer me some morphine!)

Patients, Doctors and Staff alike were also enamored with Lily. My "Lark Ascending" rang out through the corridors. I even played some French music- a little excerpt from a Vieuxtemps Concerto! David and Damian presented me with a signed copy of "Hope". I am SURE the "Deroux" sang out more brightly and proudly now that we were revealing her lost secret provenance!

I know that there is love and beauty in our world. The aura and deep connectivity created by the bonds of creativity from a French luthier across the century, a joyous lone violinist, and doctors filled with the certainty that a patient's mindset changes medical results, all in the presence of grateful patients and the dear gentle man I love, who made this trip so meaningful- well- there was a circle of love -undeniable in its power- right there in that hospital ward in those special minutes. Thank you so much for that incredible opportunity to share our passions at your Clinic dear David Schlect.
Bob-your gorgeous Mum Lily was beaming too, I'm sure, from someplace in our hearts. She could also hear the Deroux violin. But then, she probably knew it was a great French instrument all along. That's why Lily was able to guide us to "The Lily" so swiftly and surely- I am SURE!

Happy Valentine's Day! I, for one, had the TWO loves of my life! Lily and Bob. 🎻❤️

Postlude:
I have now posted a video of me performing the Lily "Cadenza for Lily" that we recorded live in the UK immediately following her funeral. I want you ALL to be able to hear what David Schlect and his patients just heard! Check the Videos page of my site.

​Good Morning! I was reflective last night, and began to ponder upon my deep love of poetry and poets. One of many favorites was Ralph Waldo Emerson, and as a child I memorized his poem, "Music"
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Music
by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Let me go where'er I will,
I hear a sky-born music still:
It sounds from all things old,
It sounds from all things young,
From all that's fair, from all that's foul,
Peals out a cheerful song.
It is not only in the rose,
It is not only in the bird,
Not only where the rainbow glows,
Nor in the song of woman heard,
But in the darkest, meanest things
There alway, alway something sings.
'T is not in the high stars alone,
Nor in the cup of budding flowers,
Nor in the redbreast's mellow tone,
Nor in the bow that smiles in showers,
But in the mud and scum of things
There alway, alway something sings.

I also adore Robert Burns, Walt Whitman, John Keats, Browning, Blake, Thoreau, and Emily Dickinson. I can still also remember the first stanzas of Keats' "Ode to a Grecian Urn" (amongst many others):

THOU still unravish'd bride of quietness, 
Thou foster-child of Silence and slow Time, 
Sylvan historian, who canst thus express 
A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme: 
What leaf-fringed legend haunts about thy shape 
Of deities or mortals, or of both, 
In Tempe or the dales of Arcady? 
What men or gods are these? What maidens loth? 
What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape? 
What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?
Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard 
Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; 
Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear'd, 
Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone: 
Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave 
Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare; 
Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss, 
Though winning near the goal—yet, do not grieve; 
She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss, 
For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair! "

There are so many poets I adore, and I feel an innate connection with their words and thoughts. Perhaps I am attracted and drawn to the lilt and cadence that the musical conjoining of words offers; perhaps I am lured by the somehow mystical and mysterious way that a poem can capture the essence of a feeling or idea in many ways with more power and passion than the mere words can in an unstructured format. In any case, I have always loved, and been fascinated by, words and especially poetry. These masters at word-craft are amongst my heroes, and I often turn and return to the poems I know and cherish, and last night was spent opening many books I have collected of such treasures, and contemplating life and all its glories in my sanctuary- my bedroom with a "reading room", furnished with my dear Mother's antiques which I inherited last year. I feel safe here, protected, nourished by richness of literature and experience, and very very close to my parents here as I ponder and let stillness envelop me.

A beautiful evening, quiet and cherished. I will leave you now with a couple more of my favorite Emerson quotes. I may continue this theme over the next few days with my particular favorites from different poets, as last night was such a balm to the soul.

Thanks for reading if you bothered to get this far- I am very "wordy" at times, but I love to read, write, and share. Typical "artist" I guess, but...well, yes, that IS me, and I am the happier for it.

“Wherever snow falls, or water flows, or birds fly, wherever day and night meet in twilight, wherever the blue heaven is hung by clouds, or sown with stars, wherever are forms with transparent boundaries, wherever are outlets into celestial space, wherever is danger, and awe, and love, there is Beauty, plenteous as rain, shed for thee, and though thou shouldest walk the world over, thou shalt not be able to find a condition inopportune or ignoble.”

“This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Last week I was in the Tablelands all week for a Music Festival hosted byJubilee Christian College.

When I arrived and met the first artist for the week, beautiful singer/songwriter Bel Thomson, we hit it off at once during the sound check. She very graciously invited me on stage for the morning concert.

Our spontaneous musical collaboration was captured by her husband, Phil. We were so blown away by the possibilities of our collaboration that they invited me back to join Bel on stage for her evening show too, in which I performed with Bel together on many of her original songs, which are just gorgeous.

​ Hope you enjoy our musical moment of inspiration here! Thank you Bel Thomson, for a musical friendship I shall cherish! And thank you dear Bob Halstead for being by my side when these amazing and emotional music moments happen!