september 6 - 12 | 2017
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Silver screens and melodies By KYLIE WILSON
KEY OF LIFE:
Kevin Adams, who will be performing at Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre next week as part of the Steinway on Stage concert series alongside performer Natalie Blanchard, has many fond memories of Wangaratta. PHOTO: Kylie Wilson
GARDENING WITH
DEBBI
RSPCA
MOVIE
KODA
IT
WITH
WINE TALK WITH
ANITA
THERE are two places where former Wangaratta resident Kevin Adams feels most at home – seated at a piano keyboard, and being enchanted by cinematic delights on the silver screen. Set to perform in Wangaratta next week as part of the Steinway on Stage concert series, he will be able to combine both of those passions. “While I was born, raised and currently live in Melbourne, I see Wangaratta as my real home,” Kevin said. “I always return as regularly as I can.” Kevin has enjoyed playing the piano from a young age, recalling being fascinated by the skills of the pianists on stage whenever he would attend a dance with his family. Despite early frustrations with playing piano, he stuck it out, often playing favourites from his parents’ record collection, and is now a seasoned pianist with the self admitted skill of being able to play songs by ear. “Playing the piano is so relaxing,” he said. “I think music’s good for the soul. “The piano can sound like an orchestra, and all your cares sort of drift away.” Kevin lived most of his young adult life in Wangaratta and was very active in the community before he moved away in 1996. “They were such formative years,” he said. He not only ran Wangaratta’s former drive-in theatre, he was also in demand as a performance pianist, regularly played piano for local theatre groups, performed with the Moonlight Dance Band, and even ran a small picture theatre in his back garden in Steane Street. He also worked locally at The Weekly Telegraph. In recent years he has worked as a projectionist in movie theatres across Victoria, including Swan Hill and St Kilda’s revered Astor Theatre. “I like to entertain people, I like to make people happy,” Kevin said. continued page |
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