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If I Had a Dollar…

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I often wonder: If I had a dollar for attending every one of my husband’s concerts over the years, how rich would I be? Probably pretty rich! Ken is a professional musician, a trumpet player. He was already the principal trumpeter of the Kalamazoo, Michigan Symphony Orchestra as a college student before we were married. This month, we will celebrate our 49th wedding anniversary. When I do the math, that adds up to a lot of concerts.

We met while we were both students at Hope College. When he told me he was a Music major, I asked, “So, do you sing, play the piano…?” He said, “I play trumpet a little.” I eventually discovered what an understatement that was! His talent had won him a full scholarship to Hope, and would later win him a full scholarship for his Master’s degree at Yale University. We married right before he started studying at Yale—and the adventure began.

Ken proposed by saying, “If you marry me, we’ll probably never be rich, but we’ll see the world.” He was so right! His first job after graduating from Yale was as principal trumpet in the National Symphony Orchestra in Bogota, Colombia. It was a huge job with a full season of concerts. Bogota is a very cultured city and supports two orchestras, Ken’s being the larger one. We also lived in Canada for eleven years when he performed full-time with two symphony orchestras. There were numerous Broadway musicals such as “Les Miserables” and “The Sound of Music,” and “Fiddler on the Roof.” He toured China with “The New Sousa Band.” Many, many orchestras and performances every place we lived—too many to name—ending up in Chicago for twenty years.

During our time in Indiana, he worked with Bill and Gloria Gaither at their recording studio, and he met and performed with popular Christian artists of the time such as Steve Green and Sandi Patti. He traveled across the country with the Christian group “Truth.” Yes, lots and lots of concerts!

Now he is “semi-retired,” which means nothing. Our church has an orchestra and brass ensemble that play for our services three Sundays a month. He traveled to Germany with me earlier this year and performed at my publishing company’s 100th Celebration. A week ago, he was in Colorado as a soloist with The Great Western Rocky Mountain Brass Band. Last Tuesday, he played a solo with the Holland American Legion Band for their summer concert series. He had another concert with a Bebop group last Saturday at a Christian Conference center.

To say that I am proud of him would be like saying, “I play trumpet a little.” Thousands of concerts, thousands and thousands of hours of beautiful music. “A dollar for every concert?” My life has been enriched beyond what money could ever buy. Happy Anniversary, Ken! I can’t believe it’s been nearly fifty years!

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Lynn Austin

Lynn Austin, a former teacher who now writes and speaks full time. Lynn was recently inducted into the Christy Award Hall for Fame for winning eight Christy Awards for her historical fiction. One of those novels, Hidden Places, has also been made into a Hallmark Channel movie. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and make their home near Chicago, Illinois.

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Comments

  1. Happy 49th anniversary! Here’s to many more! He has indeed enriched your life and you his. What a blessing you have been to each other!

  3. Happy anniversary!! What a wonderful celebration for you! God bless you with many more!!

  4. “Now he is “semi-retired,” which means nothing.” LOL! I loved this post and the way that you’re both using your giftedness in the arts.

  6. What a beautiful tribute to your husband, Lynn! And what an amazing experience the two of you have had with music around the world! My youngest son plays the trumpet, though he has no professional aspirations in that area. But our family has always been very musically inclined. All 5 of us played instruments in school and we all sing. There’s nothing that makes me smile more than sitting on the family pew Sunday morning and hearing the four-part harmony swirl around me. Music is such a gift. How blessed you have been to share that gift with your talented hubby. And for 49 years! The two of you definitely make beautiful music together. 🙂

    • Thanks Karen. You are right—music is a gift from God. It’s wonderful that your family all enjoys it together.

  9. What a precious testimony! I played trumpet in high school and college band–years ago (my 50th class reunion was earlier this month!) A friend bought her husband a shofar & he told me that it didn’t work… I picked it up & blew it & he asked me how I did that! I smiled & told him it was all in the embouchure! 🙂 I’m hoping my 11 year old grandson will choose to learn to play trumpet this year! 🙂

  11. Happy Anniversary! Thanks for sharing your adventures, which are amazing! And thanks for highlighting how important music and the other arts can be.

    Music can be such a joy. Both of our children participated in high school band. Our daughter played flute and oboe and marched in the Macy’s Parade. Our son played clarinet, Contra bass, and several brass instruments, and was selected for all city and all state band during three years of high school. Both were afforded the chance to travel with the band to many places for competitions. Now, our granddaughter participates in chorus, selected for all city over the past two years, and our grandson plays violin.

    • Yes music adds so much to life! I’m glad your family enjoys it. They will see the world!!

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