It was a full house at Grace Church in Columbiana recently for the final performance of the Idabelle Firestone Fall Concert Series. Officials announced that planning for a new series of Fall concerts for 2024 is now underway. For more information, visit Idabelle Firestone Concert Series on Facebook. (Submitted photo)

The Idabelle Firestone Fall Concert Series ended on Sunday, Oct. 15 with the sound of harps and a bagpipe ….. and a 100-plus audience. Held at Grace Church, Harvey Firestone’s Church, because of a turn in the weather, the “Hired Hands,” Allison Miller and Sairey Miller Williams, filled the sanctuary with celestial harp music, introduced and ended with the plaintive sounds of the bagpipe, performed by Kim Meek. An appreciative audience also enjoyed piano selections by Harrison Hodgson, our accomplished young music scholar.

On a dank and dark Sunday, the atmosphere could not have been more festive and upbeat. It concluded our first season of fall concerts paying tribute to Idabelle Smith Firestone. We thank Mark Frost and Chris Eisenbraun and Grace Church for their hospitality in hosting the last two programs. The prior four concerts were held outdoor at the Idabelle Firestone Gathering Place and Garden in Firestone Park.

Having successfully launched our concerts, we look forward to a second year, likely beginning in late August and filling Sundays in September. We – Brenda Bradley, Rose Conrad and I – are grateful for the fine support shown by the community for our inaugural series. We learned how dependent we were on the weather, how important and useful it was to have a shuttle to carry guests from the Rain Garden parking lot to the hilltop amphitheater seating, and the advantages of having a canopy for the seating area no matter what the weather!

We thank Jay Brothers and Tim MacMenamin for their shuttle service, and local Girl Scout Troops 80080 and 80777 for their handling of the American Flag raising during the “Star Spangled Banner” which opened each concert. We are indebted also to Mark Frost for emceeing the first program which featured the 47-piece Firestone Symphony Orchestra and WFMJ TV 21 for their sponsorship and conduct of the concerts by station anchor, Meredith Lea, and station meteorologist, Andrew DiPaolo, presiding.

We are pleased to be offering the community Idabelle Firestone’s kind of music and an experience on the top of the hill befitting her memory. Please watch for notice of next year’s programs on social media, in the Morning Journal, on WFMJ radio/tv and on Western Reserve Public Television. Many, many thanks to the community for the positive response!

(Visit Idabelle Firestone Concert Series on Facebook for continuing information.)