One Man's Vision of 'Community' - Bob Manning and the Tri-Lakes Music Association

"I always had a dream of doing a 'community' event," says Bob Manning, Director of The Tri-Lakes Music Association. His dream came together in 1998 when the wheels were set in motion to organize an all volunteer musical group that would not only sing a Christmas Concert, but would also have the depth of musicians in the Tri-Lakes area to pull off a full scale volunteer orchestra.

Bob put his idea in motion along with the help of other interested people, when the first of six Christmas Concerts got its start!

Over the years, like-minded individuals have contributed to make this Music Association a reality six out of the past nine years, but Bob Manning's determination and vision has been the glue that has held this organization together.

Through his vision and perseverance this year, he has forged ahead to obtain non-profit status for the Tri-Lakes Music Association. This group has many members that have been together for several years, creating a commitment to a sense of community in a somewhat loose knit community. "This group of musicians," as Bob Manning says, "has been on a journey. A journey toward 'community', one that is representative of the entire Tri-Lakes community." Members of this group come from all over the Tri-Lakes region and beyond to gather in fellowship and perform. The group includes an adult choir, orchestra and children's choir. What a testament this is of one man's vision of community.

The behind the scenes work it takes to put on a concert of this magnitude would be a daunting task if it were not for the love of music and a dream of making this association of musicians a reality. The Tri-Lakes Music Association committee members, along with Bob Manning, are committed to seeing this organization come to fruition.

The work begins each year, not long after the annual Christmas Concert, by obtaining and reviewing new material for the next year's concert. The wheels are set in motion for getting the next concert format figured out, ensuring quality musicians to play in the orchestra and contacting choir members to begin practice again by the time fall comes.

Twice a week, when September roles around, Bob Manning practices the new music with the choir up until the week of the performance. The last week or two involves many days and nights of preparation for lighting, sound, set-up and a final rehearsal for this event. Being able to conduct and have a trained ear to pull off a pleasing and succinct collaborative production is truly a gift that Mr. Manning downplays, yet it is an enormous task and he seems to do it with such ease.

All of this is done with a very limited budget that the Association receives through donations. As a non-profit organization, the Tri-Lakes Music Association takes pride in the "gifts" that this organization gives back to our community. Bob Manning says, "The gifts we give are the music we make and the enjoyment we give to those that come to listen to us. Most importantly, is the gift of money that we give to Tri-Lakes Cares. Each year during the Christmas Concert, a free-will offering is taken. This money goes directly to Tri-Lakes Cares. The Tri-Lakes Music Association has raised approximately $20,000 in the past 5 concerts!"

Bob Manning, although not professionally trained as a conductor, has spent 20 plus years as a church choir director and his musical past speaks for itself. He is an accomplished trombone player. In High School he was designated twice in the All-State Band and honored as a recipient of the John Philip Sousa award for two years. He had twelve years of piano lessons and was in his church and High School choirs growing up.

He comes from a musical family. His father, a Medical General Practitioner by trade, directed church choirs as a hobby and his brother and two sisters make part of their living in music. In fact, Bob says that through choir at a church several years ago, where his dad was the Director, is where he met his wife, Anita, a member of that very choir! With many situations and experiences that have shaped his life as a musician, director/conductor and singer, Bob recalls one very special memory of holding his father-in-law's hand and singing all of the old hymns that he could remember as he neared his last breaths.

Even Bob's own struggle with uncertainty due to a lung condition called 'Sarcoidosis', an autoimmune disease that attacks soft tissue organs of the body, (for Bob, his lungs), leaves him scared to death that this disease could take away his ability to sing. Bob says, "I remember thinking that I'd rather lose one of my senses instead. I guess back when I was diagnosed and did a lot of research about this disease, my biggest concern was losing the ability to sing. I have been fortunate that although I'm limited in what I can do and my lung capacity is greatly reduced from what it should be, I can still haggle along singing."

Singing, directing, conducting, planning, organizing, all of these things that Bob Manning has done to bring our community together leaves one feeling that his 'vision of community' is one of inspiration!

For a chance to see and hear the culmination of the hard work that Bob Manning and all of those involved in the Tri-Lakes Music Association have done this year, please take time to come to 'The Heart of Christmas'. A Christmas concert performed by the Tri-Lakes Music Association on December 16 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and December 17 at 2 p.m. Admission is free with a free will offering being taken up for Tri-Lakes Cares. For additional information call 481-3883 or visit www.trilakesmusic.org.