Originally published
Jan. 11, 2013
If George Bailey from “It’s a Wonderful Life” had a modern-day counterpart, Natalie Reed would be a good candidate. Beloved violin teacher and master performer, Reed was diagnosed weeks ago with aggressive stage-four ovarian cancer. As Reed prepared to undergo intensive treatment, her students came up with an idea to bring her help and hope — they planned a benefit concert at the U’s Libby Gardner Hall.
The concert, which took place on Wednesday night, opened with Clark Campbell, husband of Reed’s sister, reading a letter from President Emeritus David Gardner. Gardner said the venue, which was named for his wife who passed away from cancer in 1991, was “well-suited” to the celebration for Reed.
Reed’s friends showed up en masse to support her — donating at least $20 per ticket to attend. When general admission sold out, overflow was seated in the choir loft above the stage.
The bill consisted of stars from Utah’s music scene such as Kurt Bestor, Alex Boye, Peter Breinholt and YouTube hit The Piano Guys.
Reed wrote each of the performers and personally asked them to help her with the concert.
“I don’t think anyone would have batted an eye,” Breinholt said.
He was right. Even nonperformers such as Lex de Azevedo, a local composer, were happy and grateful for the opportunity to honor their friend.
The song selections were as varied as the performers ranging from the Bach Double, a concerto played by Reed’s students, to “Natalie’s Jubilee,” a bluegrass tune composed for the occasion.
Boye said the variety was selected to reflect the many beautiful sides of Reed, and her friends agree with Boye on that score. Ann Tyler, a long-time friend who attended middle and high school with Reed, said no matter what Reed was doing, she was pretty amazing.
“So many people love her,” Tyler said. “She is just so genuine. She would do this for anybody.”
Both Tyler and Melissa Williams, whose daughter Samara takes violin lessons from Reed, said she has a magic ability to instill confidence.
“[Reed] is such a dynamic person,” Williams said. “She’s such a strong female mentor for my daughter … It’s more than music.”
Some said that image was clear when they heard Will Hagen, a violinist who began his musical journey as a student of Reed’s and is now studying with Itzhak Perlman. Hagen performed a piece by Kreisler that he first learned in Reed’s studio.
The audience rose to their feet as soon as Hagen finished playing.
“Everything you just heard was all from Natalie,” Hagen said.
When you hear something like that, Boye said, “You feel something bigger than yourself.”
Reed felt that same feeling at the end of the night when she stood from her reclining chair to thank her friends for their help. The total from the donations at the door will be used to help cover her mounting medical expenses in the months to come.
“I have spent my life with these people,” Reed said. “It reminds me of that movie, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ … My heart is too tender and too full.”