It was Ludwig van Beethoven that said, “Music should strike fire in the heart of man and bring tears from the eyes of woman.” It was organist Carey Scheck that brought Beethoven's passion to the La Porte Hospital Family Chapel.
The Healthcare Foundation chose Scheck as the March 2017 performance of First Friday in the Chapel for her artistic talent and experience in a similar setting. Each month they invite a special guest with his or her own brand of talent, instrument, and voice.
“Every performance is unique,” said the Healthcare Foundation and First Friday Coordinator Mike Gillock. “This one is in the context of a formal recital.”
Gillock discovered Scheck at a local church and thought, “I’ve got to have her. She is an awesome musician and a lovely person.”
Scheck is a graduate of Valparaiso University. She plays classical and worship music as an organist at the Episcopal St. Paul’s and the Presbyterian Church of La Porte. Scheck has also been known to give piano lessons.
This March she added the La Porte chapel to her repertoire.
“It is really important to utilize this space, it is such a fantastic chapel,” Scheck said. “It’s good to give people, especially the ones staying in the hospital for less cheerful reasons, something to enjoy and look forward to. I have been working on a few pieces for other recitals, some music that I really enjoy playing.”
The recital opened with Deux Arabesques by Claude Debussy. Beethoven (Sonata in A flat Major, op. 110) and Modeste Moussorgsky (Pictures at an Exhibition) showcased Scheck’s ability to wear her emotions on her piano keys. She led the audience through playful crescendos and over morose bridges, to a hymnal finale (Toccato Glocosa) by Gilbert M. Martin.
“It was excellent,” said attendee Marsha Morris. “Carey is an extremely talented performer and pianist. She loves the music that she plays, you can see it on her face.”
Morris and her husband were instrumental, as part of the Hospital Auxiliary, in getting the $100,000 dollar organ built. The chapel was always meant to be a community space in which patrons could experience music.
“The chapel is a tangible symbol of La Porte Hospital’s commitment to meet the spiritual as well as the clinical needs of our patients,” said Chaplain Ray Francis. “It was dedicated on October 4th, 1998, with the tenant, “Touching Lives… Lifting Spirits.” The chapel serves as a focal point for musical gatherings and special events. I am really excited about every performance.”
