Pianist Hunter Noack will bring his piano to the shores of Applegate Lake on May 26th.
By Christina Ammon
Last summer, I joined some friends headed to a concert on the Oregon Coast. It was called IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild. I didn’t know much about it at the time. Something about a musician pulling a Steinway on a flatbed truck and performing in various outdoor settings around Oregon? I’m in!
When we arrived at the venue—a sunny farm near Port Orford —we were handed wireless headsets and invited to wander the grounds. While pianist Hunter Noack played original live classical compositions, we strolled among fields of flowers and vegetables, patted horses and enjoyed mountain views. This is exactly how concerts should be, I thought: Music enhances the landscape; the landscape enhances the music.
Pre-order a picnic from our local Back Barn Farm for the event by clicking the link at the bottom of this article.
Midway through the show, my friend Megan slid a headphone off her ear and leaned in: “Wouldn’t it be great to have this in the Applegate?”
Several months (and lucky connections!) later, that dream is coming true! IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild has added our own Applegate Lake to their 2024 tour. The Steinway will be parked on the beach area near Hart-Tish Park on May 26th from 5:30-7:00.
Late-May is a stunning time at the lake with its high waterline and the Red Buttes forming a snowy backdrop. Guests can bring chairs, or spread blankets near the shore—or even paddle out onto the lake while listening (provided they are careful with the headsets!). Picnics for the event can be pre-ordered from Black Barn Farm and picked up at the concert. Wine can be purchased at a discount from Valley View Winery enroute to the lake.
Valley View Winery is right on the way to Applegate Lake. Concert-goers can stop and purchase wine for the event for a 10-percent discount.
IN A LANDSCAPE is a nonprofit founded by pianist Hunter Noack in 2016. Since then, he’s performed over 250 concerts to over 50,000 people. The organization’s mission is to remove barriers to access classical music and the great outdoors.
Travel Southern Oregon and A Greater Applegate are sponsors of the event, which fits in with the Applegate Valley Vision, an 89-page document that details the goals and aspirations of Applegate Valley residents. The Vision is a summation of dozens of listening sessions held throughout the valley in the years 2019-2020.
For more information and tickets: www.inalandscape.org
To pre-order a picnic: www.blackbarnfarmoregon.com
For more about the Applegate Valley Vision: www.agreaterapplegate.org
