Carmin Erison had a tall task before her. It was Fall 2024, and as the program and engagement manager for the Cochrane Public Library, Erosion had been charged with coming up with a special event to commemorate the Library’s 75th anniversary, which was to be celebrated the following summer.
Then her phone rang. Tynon Thorogood, a bass-baritone and librettist and chorus member with the Edmonton Opera, and a Cochrane local, wanted to perform in town and was hoping the library would host him.
An idea for a summer-long concert series quickly came together for Erison, who used the Library’s extensive connections with local artists to put together the ‘Sounds of Summer’ series, which officially began on July 8.
For six weeks, from July 8 to August 12, local artists will be at the Library performing a (weather-permitting) outdoor musical series. Every week Cochranites will get to experience a new genre of music, performed by an eclectic group of local artists.
“People are often looking for things to do in the summertime,” Erison said. “We wanted to do something and have special programs in place, and what better way to bring our community together than working with our local musicians to bring free events at the library?”
To kick off the series on July 8, the Library hosted Kellan and Berkeley Harris-Still, a teenage brother-sister duo and members of the Cochrane Pipe Band who played traditional Scottish pipes and Drum music. On July 15, Edward Allen, the Cochrane Drum Tutor, and Slovak Pianist, Timea Powaza, performed.
On July 22, the Good Vibes Memory Choir was slated to perform in the series, followed by singer-songwriter Tupaj Parrado on July 29. Cadence Krueger, a fourth-year music student at the University of Lethbridge will give a clarinet performance on August 5. On August 12, opera singer Tynan Thorogood will give the finale performance that will wrap up the Sounds of Summer series.
Speaking on why she landed on a weekly musical performance to celebrate the Library’s 75th anniversary, Erosion said that the abundance of local talent–and the inherent healing power of music–made it an easy choice.
“Music is great for the soul,” Erosion said. “It’s great for mental health and the Library was looking to provide programs that help connect people with one another.” Erison said the Series, which was put together on a relatively small budget, came together with the community’s help.
“It was challenging at first to line everything up on a tight budget,” she said. “But the community really stepped up to help us out.”
The Sounds of Summer series lined up with one of the Library’s overarching goals, Erison said, which is to provide free opportunities for people to experience art and music without having to go to Calgary. “In the end, [the Series] is a celebration of Cochrane,” Erison said.
