Jill Timmons understands the healing power of music. Timmons, professor of music at Linfield College, along with her husband, Sylvain Frémaux, the founding director of the Linfield Chamber Orchestra, are bringing music and restoration to the tiny hamlet of Herbilly in central France. And their work is paving the way for Linfield student pianists to study there

Davis, Laura

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Linfield Magazine Volume 2 Number 3 Winter 2006 Article 14 Winter 2006 Festival Brings Music, Restoration Laura Davis Linfield College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/linfield_magazine Recommended Citation Davis, Laura (2006) "Festival Brings Music, Restoration," Linfield Magazine: Vol. 2 : No. 3 , Article 14. Available at: https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/linfield_magazine/vol2/iss3/14 This article is brought to you for free via open access, courtesy of DigitalCommons@Linfield. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@linfield.edu. Schöne Grüsse aus Wien!Greetings from Vienna, Austria –the land of Mozart, Freud,Wienerschnitzel and The Sound ofMusic! The weather outside hasdropped below freezing (yet again),and I have retreated to one of thecountless coffee houses to warmmyself with a signature Vienneselatte, the Wiener Mélange. Thisactivity has proven to be a favoritepastime of mine since arriving inAustria.Although there is some truth tothe long-held stereotypes aboutAustria, there is definitely more tothis small country, situated in theheart of Europe, than coffee andclassical music. Vienna is not only ametropolis that maintains a small-town feel, but also a diverse cultur-al capital with an amazing emphasison music and art. My grant consists of three parts:1) teaching English part-time in anAustrian high school, 2) studying atthe University of Vienna and 3)pursuing an independent researchproject. Through small-scale diplo-matic efforts, I have been able to seethe impact of establishing personalrelationships in broadening people’sperspectives about other nationsand cultures. I have enjoyed the teachingaspect of my grant immensely.Through teaching my studentsabout America, I have come tomore critically understand, and alsoappreciate, my own country. In alesson covering the recent citywideelection in Vienna, I was forced toexamine and explain fundamentaltheoretical aspects of the Americanpolitical system, and offer this as acontrast to the Austrian system. Inturn, my students began to morecritically examine the system towhich they are accustomed.Between attending and teach-ing classes, I am also conducting anindependent research project onthe political representation ofTurkish immigrant women inVienna. In addition to utilizing theenormous collection at theAustrian National Library, I havebeen discussing my research withSieglinde Rosenberger, a politicalscience professor at the Universityof Vienna who has agreed to serveas my mentor for this project. I amalso building contacts with women’sgroups in Vienna that will beinvaluable to my research.My experiences at Linfieldwere essential in preparing me forthis experience. First, the emphasisLinfield places on studying abroadhelped me to be confident aboutspending an entire year abroad. During my four years at Linfield,I spent a semester in Vienna, a semes-ter in Washington, D.C., and aJanuary Term in Russia. All of theseexperiences helped spark my interestin exploring new cultures andspurred me on to apply for post-graduate opportunities abroad. Also,the research opportunities I had withDawn Nowacki, Linfield associateprofessor of political science, pre-pared me to undertake a large-scaleindependent research project.I am thankful for everyone atLinfield who assisted me with theFulbright application process. All ofthe support and encouragement Ireceived from the Linfield commu-nity was invaluable, and very muchappreciated!Grant helps broaden perspectivesAlexis Lien ’05, shown here at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, is spending the academic year in Austria. In addition to teaching at a high school and studying at the University of Vienna, Lien is researching thepolitical and social position of Turkish immigrant women. She honed her focus while studying in Vienna as a sophomore through Linfield’s study abroad program.2 0   -   L I N F I E L D  M A G A Z I N EFulbright winner Alexis Lien ’05 is spending the 2005-2006 academicyear teaching, studying and conducting research in Austria.Jill Timmons understands thehealing power of music.Timmons, professor of music atLinfield College, along with her hus-band, Sylvain Frémaux, the foundingdirector of the Linfield ChamberOrchestra, are bringing music andrestoration to the tiny hamlet ofHerbilly in central France. And theirwork is paving the way for Linfieldstudent pianists to study there.The two have started a musicfestival, which will also fundrestoration of a 12th century churchdamaged during World War II. Onthe night of May 8, 1944, Germanartillery shot down a fully loadedRAF Lancaster bomber overHerbilly, leaving a large crater in thetown. Thirteen people died andmany lost their homes. St. Aignanchurch and its bell tower were dam-aged but remained standing. Timmons and Frémaux’s sum-mer home in Herbilly, one of thefew structures to survive the bomb-ing, is located across the street fromthe church. Both buildings are his-torical monuments.“When we bought the house in2003, villagers asked us when wewere going to bring music to thetown,” said Timmons, who alongwith Frémaux has worked exten-sively in France over the years. That was all it took. Last summerTimmons and Frémaux launched theFestival d’Herbilly, a music festival tobe held annually to raise money forthe church restoration. The festival issponsored by the city of Mer and theAssociation de Saint Aignan.Timmons and Laura Klugherz, a vio-list from Colgate University, per-formed at the first fund raising con-cert in July. Blüthner Pianos ofLeipzig, Germany, provided a grandpiano free of charge.For the first time in the villagers’memory, music filled the church.“It’s something to see anancient church in this countrysidesetting,” Timmons said. “Each time Iwalk up the heavily worn stonesteps of the church, I realize thatsomeone from the 12th centuryonce walked up these same steps.”The festival will host theLinfield Summer Piano Institute, afour-day immersion for pianistspreviously held in Newport.Timmons hopes to include Linfieldstudents in the institute, and futurefestivals will feature a variety ofinternational artists. The Festival d’Herbilly hasserved as a catalyst for a physicalrestoration, but it also symbolizes apartnership among the French,German and American cultures,Timmons said. “This international group hascome together, not only to restore a12th century tower, but in celebra-tion of music and culture in thisrural region,”  Timmons said.– Laura DavisFestival brings music, restorationSt. Aignan Church, located in Herbilly in central France, was built in the 12th century, around the sametime as the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.Catch a preview of the 2006St. Aignan church concert.Jill Timmons, piano, and Laura Klugherz,viola, will perform on April 30 at 8 p.m.in Melrose Auditorium at Linfield.W I N T E R  2 0 0 6 -   2 1Sylvain Frémaux and Jill Timmons launched theFestival d'Herbilly, a music festival to raise fundsfor a church restoration in France.Fulbright Winners

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