The Riches of Classically Humboldt
Perhaps you or a friend have had this experience — lamenting on Monday or Tuesday that there was a wonderful concert the previous weekend that you would happily have attended, if only you had known about it.
How delightful yet discouraging it is to hear the glorious details about the fine performances, the inspired repertoire and the unbridled enthusiasm of the audience when somehow you yourself were left in the dark about the whole affair.
After a lifetime living in the nexus of Humboldt County music circles, even someone as musically connected as Julie Fulkerson has found herself wondering how she could have missed the memo about a concert or other arts-related event that revealed itself to her only too late to attend.
Ultimately, she took the matter into her own hands and created a website, ClassicallyHumboldt.com, which delivers monthly music announcements via email, while promoting our community’s substantial classical and “classical-adjacent” musical offerings. More than 1,000 music lovers have signed up for the free service.
When I became the administrator for Eureka Chamber Music Series a few years ago, Julie asked me if I would be interested in taking over the monthly Classically Humboldt newsletter. That moment initiated the “passing of the torch,” as Julie likes to call it, and the newsletter and website are now my obligation and my privilege. It is an exciting and daunting task every month.
I moved to Humboldt from southern California in the mid-’90s, eager to live smaller, especially after several years living and working in the heart of Los Angeles. Down south, finding out about arts events, affording them and getting to them were so overwhelming most of the time that I just didn’t bother. Part of the draw of Humboldt for me was the possibility of bringing live performing arts back to my life. I was delighted with what I found here.
The variety of live musical offerings we can choose from is quite astonishing, and it’s worth remembering that the local music scene is constantly evolving. Since we are all evolving as well, perhaps now is the time for you to try out something new, maybe even something outside your comfort zone. I’m guessing you’ll be glad you did.
Sign up for the free email newsletter at classicallyhumboldt.com.
Kevin Sharkey is manager of both the Eureka Chamber Music Series and Classically Humboldt.
