Music Conservatory of Sandpoint didn't need 'fixing'

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The Music Conservatory wasn’t broken and did not need fixing.

Over two years ago, I brought a friend to a free weekly singing class for elders at the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint taught by founder and executive director Karin Wedemeyer. My friend is an excellent singer and enjoyed it, but did not stay with it. I, however, had been diagnosed with Spasmodic Dysphonia and felt the singing was helping my throat. Now, after singing nearly once a week for over two years,I just sang soprano in two shows of "Carmina Burana" on the Panida stage. What a thrill.

However, my excitement and joy were tainted and became bittersweet when during our weeklong rehearsal, we became aware that neither Karin nor the conductor, Jan, were participating. How strangely odd that the primary creator/coordinator of this massive event was absent. Then the conversations started. One singer came all the way from Texas to work with Jan and Karin. She was not a happy camper. Nor were many of us. 

So it turns out that the majority of the board voted with the board chair to put Karin on “leave.” That reads to me as a firing strategically timed during summer music camp when there were not a lot of folks around. What appears to be a disagreement over the financial outcome of the Chris Botti concert has escalated into an unacceptable action. Does the chair understand what Karin has done in this community over the past 17 years? Does he understand what the conservatory means to hundreds if not thousands of people in the area? As an example of “area,” we had about 50 singers and 60 instrumentalists on the stage with Carmina Burana from the Montana border to Spokane and by the Canadian border to Coeur d’Alene and the greater Sandpoint area. Over 100 youth and adults coming together to deliver a (standing ovation.) show, the likes of which has never before been seen and heard in Sandpoint (to my knowledge) and may never happen again. What a unique opportunity. 

Does the MCS chair and board have any idea of the creative genius that is the powerhouse of Karin Wedemeyer? Reverse your decision and let’s get on with the power of music to heal, excite, inspire and educate.

ELLEN WEISSMAN

Sandpoint