Saturday, June 29, 2024
​
Live at ​Second Stage | Amherst
​194 2nd Street Amherst, VA 24521

Gary Meisner, piano and arranger;
​Ernest Deane, trumpet, and Andy Aeschbacher, bass.
Gary Meisner
​Seven years ago Gary relocated to Lynchburg as a result of marrying the well-known piano teacher Beverly Henkel. In the past few years Andy Aeschbacher, Ernest Deane and Gary have "jammed" on Monday nights. This weekly session became known as Jazz at Beverly's. The tunes they play are an outgrowth of these sessions.
 
Gary's first experience playing music was with the accordion. As he grew up in Milwaukee there wasn't a more popular instrument. The result was that there were untold opportunities to play. Some of his engagements included a weekly television show on WISN for six months and a radio show on WTMJ that ran for two and a half years. Performances with the Milwaukee Symphony Pops orchestra playing Fiddler on the Roof was a notable highlight.
 
In the 80s Gary gradually transitioned to the piano. His more than four decades as a keyboard editor at Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation helped in this process. As a part of his job he arranged more than twenty-five accordion books as well as a method which comprise a significant part of the Hal Leonard accordion catalog. 
​
Chuck Hedges, a wonderful Clarinetist, provided the next step in Gary's piano playing as he offered him the opportunity to play in a group called the Milwaukee Connection. Over the next ten years there were many gigs and some recordings. The most notable recording was Sweet and Lovely with strings arranged and conducted by Paul Keller.
 
Lynchburg has a thriving music community and Gary is grateful for all the musicians with whom he has played.
Ernest Deane
Andy Aeschbacher
Tickets: 
​(Includes one free cup of coffee, water, or soda from ​Baine’s Books & Coffee. Food is available for purchase.)
  • $12 adults
  • $6 students 
  • ​Free: VCA Passport*
​
  • Pay at the door, cash or checks only; doors open at 5:30 pm.​
  • Advance tickets available at Eventbrite. Click on button below. 

*AGAR is part of the VCA Passport Program for those in the WIC Program. Our performances are suitable for Women and Children over 12; not for infants or small children. For more information, call 434-989-3215 or click on this link below.
 https://www.amherstglebeartsresponse.org/passport.html