About three years ago, when pianist Sarah Hagen was living in the Vancouver Island community of Courtenay, she was feeling a bit isolated.
So, wanting to share her love of music, she opened up her home to the public for concerts. The idea took off and, at one point, she was hosting four shows a week - sometimes playing duets with a guest artist.
The following year, Hagen moved to Vancouver but her concept of salon-type recitals gained steam. Staff at Nanaimo's Port Theatre had heard about Hagen's success in Courtenay and wanted her to add morning performances at their venue.
Last year, Hagen put Coquitlam's Evergreen Cultural Centre and the Surrey Arts Centre on her roster and, this year, she will have a total of eight locations - with Maple Ridge, Duncan, Chilliwack and Vernon - for her morning mix.
"I'm crazy, I know," Hagen said last week in a phone interview from St. John's, N.L. "It's a very busy schedule but this seems to be the way I work."
At each of the eight locations, Hagen and a guest musician will play between four and six 75-minute shows, from September to April.
Her Coquitlam series kicks off on Wednesday, Oct. 9 with cellist Rebecca Wenham, whom Hagen met while at The Banff Centre. Next up are violinist Joan Blackman, soprano Robyn Driedger-Klassen, French horn player Oto Carrillo and pianist Isabelle O'Connell.
Hagen said she tends to allow the guest artist to pick the repertoire for the show. But because the recitals are at 10 a.m., she tends to prefer music that's "sensitive" to the early-morning crowd - that is, a serious and balanced program but not too abrasive for the ear.
As well, she encourages her guest artists to give some music history before launching into each piece. "I want this to be an educational experience, to give people something that they can take away," Hagen said, adding, "At the end of this series, they will get to hear some beautiful music and have a sense of community with other classical music lovers."
David Mann, Evergreen's performing arts manager, said part of the appeal of Musical Mornings is Hagen's charm. "Sarah is a real attraction," he said. "The cliché of the self-absorbed classical pianist doesn't hold for her. She is the complete opposite: Very warm and friendly and funny. She's a great host."
Attendance for last year's Musical Mornings grew with each performance and Evergreen officials hope the 2013 series fares well, especially with its introduction a special admission rate for school groups (suitable to Grade 5 and up).
"Things like these take two to three years to establish themselves," Mann said of classical music shows. As well, since the shows are in the mornings, "you're catering to a different crowd, namely seniors or people who are working from home in the area."
Classical music recitals are often a tough sell in the Tri-Cities, Mann said; however, "Evergreen is committed to keep working on it."
Besides Musical Mornings, Evergreen has also partnered with the new Coquitlam Youth Orchestra, the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Quiring Chamber Players to offer more from the classical music catalogue.
Musical Mornings with Sarah Hagen start with coffee, tea and treats from Cobs Bread and will be followed by a 75-minute concert. For tickets, call the Evergreen Cultural Centre box office at 604-927-6555 or visit online at evergreenculturalcentre.ca. Tickets are $20, or $15 per show when you purchase three or more Musical Mornings concerts.
