Photo K. Howard |
Kosciuszko Heritage Inc. special guest for Dreamlights Kosciuszko Festival 2013, Roy Eaton landed at Sydney Airport Thursday 7th February. Roy is an ambassador of peace, inner strength and calmness so he was unphased having to go through the four hour rigmarole regarding the non-arrival of his checked in luggage after his twenty hour flight. After stopping at a Woolworths to buy some needed attire, I drove Roy to Ernestyna’s for a ‘Welcome to Australia’, before going to Kellyville where during his Sydney stay he is being hosted by my brother John and his wife Marysia.
Early next morning we were off to Canberra for Roy’s performances opening and closing the Global Music Showcase part of the Multicultural Festival situated near the Canberra Centre Fountain. Kosciuszko Heritage Inc greatly appreciates the enthusiasm, support and help of chief GMS organiser, Mr Lindsay Burge and the support of the US Embassy. After being introduced by Ambassador J.L. Bleich, Roy played a selection of ragtime classics by Scott Joplin. His stylish and vigorous performance was well received by the Festival attendees. Roy extended his stay in Canberra to the 15th February thanks to the hospitality of Eta Rogoyska. In between the Festival and his performance at the National Library of Australia on Wednesday, 13th February at 11am Roy will get to see Canberra’s attractions thanks to Lindsay and Eta.
Mr Eaton’s closing performance at the Festival was amazing. Despite not being able to hear the notes he was playing he was able to transcend the ambient noise from nearby events and the banter of patrons of the food and liquor stalls in the ‘Paddy’s Market like’ surroundings. Mr Eaton held the attention of the Festival participants interested in music whilst playing spiritual selections from Chopin, Gershwin and Evans sourced from his ‘I Play for Peace’, ‘ The Meditative Chopin’ and ‘247 plus 7’ albums. Roy’s calmness and tranquillity as well as the serenity of what he was playing transferred to his audience.
All who can make it to Jindabyne for ‘Dreamlights’ on the 23rd February at 5pm are in for a treat. Mr Eaton and his performances around the world have been described by the New York Times as bringing one ‘much closer to the heart of Chopin---and by extension to music itself’; by the Aargauer Tablatt (Switzerland) as a ‘phenomenal interpreter of Chopin’; and ‘his was an arresting performance. . . pure of tone, capable of the most eloquent and pliant lyricism . . infused with rare sensitivity and taste’ by The Chicago Daily News.
Welcome to Australia! |
Roy at Ernestyna's place |
Roy at Kellyville |
Roy considers his music as a ‘lifelong exploration of the spiritual dimension of music.’ It is music ‘for those seeking to find their spiritual center. The place where everything is ONE. The place where Peace and Love reign. . . the title “I Play for Peace” says it all. I am a firm believer in the power of music to reveal to us the essence of being . . . a concept that is beyond the realm of words to convey....PEACE.
For people of Polish heritage it is not only Roy’s mastery of Chopin that makes him special, however, because he is an African-American who has studied Kosciuszko’s biography and is an admirer of the General talking truth to powerful American Founding Fathers such as Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. Eaton knows all about Kosciuszko’s American Will, how Jefferson reneged on his commitment to Kosciuszko and how this history has been sanitised out of Jefferson’s biographies. Roy and I met in New York at the talk given by Alex Storozynski about Kosciuszko based on his book The Peasant Prince. Storozynski recognised Roy as the winner of the Kosciuszko Foundation’s inaugural Chopin competition in 1950 when Mr Eaton asked the author the first question in the Q&A session after the talk.
The Ambassador [Jeffrey L. Bleich] was thrilled to meet Mr Eaton and hear him play, as were we all, at the Multicultural Festival last Saturday. The Embassy is proud to have contributed to Mr Eaton’s visit to Australia and we wish him and you every success with the forthcoming Kosciuszko Festival. Kind regards. Trevlyn Gilmour, Cultural Program Manager, Public Affairs Section, Embassy of the United States of America.
Furthermore, since arriving in Australia Roy has become aware of Sir Paul Edmund Strzelecki’s abhorrence of slavery, his respect for Aboriginal culture and the fact he explored seven thousand miles on foot travelling across many different tribal areas by permission and not by force. Facts not taught to students in Australian schools. He is also aware of ‘Strzelecki’s good relations with Aborigines being reciprocated when his Aboriginal companions, Charlie Tarra and Jackey helped save Sir Paul’s expedition party in Gippsland when food was low, by helping him to identify natural food sources from the bush.’ (from National Parks and Wildlife Service Fact Sheet)
For these reasons Mr Eaton is dedicating his performances to the Ngarigo people, traditional custodians of Monaro land. Kosciusko Heritage Inc. is honoured to have Mr Roy Eaton as its special guest for Dreamlights: Kosciuszko Festival 2013. Come along, bring your friends, the more the merrier, all are heartily welcomed.
Felix Molski
Photos Felix Molski & Festival Website
Friendly handshake with the American Ambassador |
Artists on stage |
Roy with the American Ambassador and his Wife |
| 
