St. Dorothy Parish hosted a summer classical music concert that featured pastor Father Michael Carlson on the violin, along with parish organist Ginny Ohlault. (Lisa M. Geraci | Catholic News Herald) LINCOLNTON — Violin virtuoso Father Michael Carlson and parish organist Ginny Ohlault debuted a summer classical concert, serenading more than 200 attendees at St. Dorothy Parish.
Despite competing summer activities, the parking lot quickly filled with people from Lincolnton, Linville, Huntersville and Charlotte.
Parish office manager Alison Speed was delighted that folks outside the congregation attended.
“Lincolnton hadn’t had a classical musical concert for quite a long time,” said Speed. “It was so nice, beautiful and refreshing to have this concert here.”
Father Carlson added, “Even students from Davidson, where I said Mass a few times, made the trip out. The St. Mark parishioners and all the ones from St. Dorothy, and of course, my sister, brother and mother.”
Parishioners were surprised and inspired watching Father Carlson masterfully bow classics such as “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy.
“With music, sometimes you can express things that are more difficult or impossible to express with words,” noted Father Carlson. “It is an incredibly fulfilling endeavor to reach people in a certain way you can’t with the spoken word. It can be quite a mystery. A beautiful thing that God has given us.”
As Father Carlson focused on his role as pastor, his violin case gathered dust. Now, he’s brushed it off, and the parish is taking notice.
“Most everyone was rather impressed and happy to be able to share that music with me and Ginny. It was truly a fulfilling afternoon,” said Father Carlson.
The idea of a concert started when the women’s group heard Father Carlson’s renditions of works by Sergei Prokofiev and Antonio Vivaldi. Not able to keep such a treasure to themselves, they asked if he’d consider collaborating with Ohlhaut.
“We had a lot of fun with the concert program and came up with a mix of things. Some were songs that I’ve had on my mind that I really wanted to play in front of an audience.
Like the Prokofiev,” said Father Carlson. “Vivaldi, being a priest himself, we thought it was only appropriate to include him.”
To prepare for the performance, Father Carlson picked up the prized violin he’s had since high school and started rehearsing for up to an hour a day.
He is no stranger to strict training. At one point he drilled himself for six hours a day, repeating works until the artists and the player became a blurred line.
“Any instrument takes a bit of time to start to understand, especially the violin. The movements demanded, especially in the arms, are not particularly natural,” reflected Father Carlson. “Yet, I was so struck by the beauty and the sound quality that difficulty didn’t matter to me. I was going to take whatever practice time there was needed to master the instrument.”
For Christina Broodno, a parishioner at St. Gabriel in Charlotte, hearing her brother brought back childhood memories of evenings she and her siblings listened to and played the classics.
“He has been playing since he was seven. There are six of us; the three youngest play. They played together for our wedding,” said Broodno. “I’ve heard him play those pieces dozens and dozens of times. It’s a cherished hobby for him, and a way for him to give glory to God. A way to escape in himself and relax. He finds some solace in it, and for him it’s great outreach as well.”
During high school, he performed with orchestras sprinkled throughout Central Valley, California, where he grew up. He went on to the University of Montana to study violin, hoping to perform professionally.
Those plans were put on hold after he developed tendinitis, leaving him unable to practice. God used the setback to make His plans clear, as Carlson left college and discerned his calling to the priesthood.
Ohlhaut and Father Carlson are excited about the future of their musical duo.
“We are starting to kick around ideas, possibly a Christmas concert, but if that doesn’t materialize, we plan to play again next summer. Parishioners have mentioned some kind of recording, and we are open to that,” he said.
— Lisa M. Geraci