Video and Photos: Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association Pulls Off Quite a Musical Fete

On Saturday, visitors to Laguna Beach could walk down the sidewalks and hear gypsy jazz, old-timey gospel, Latin guitar and minimal blues all within a few blocks of each other. Thanks to the Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association, the weekend crowd was treated to a wonderful variety of music performed by groups throughout the downtown area during the 4th Annual Fete de la Musique.

The "Sister City" of Laguna Beach is Menton, France. Menton holds a music festival every year in June to celebrate the first day of the summer. Laguna Beach resident, musician and LBSCA Board Member Carol Reynolds wanted to create a Laguna Beach music festival similar to the one held in Menton.

So four years ago, Reynolds and her friends in the LBSCA worked to create the Laguna Beach Fete de la Musique. Each year, musicians are invited to play up and down the streets of downtown Laguna Beach to celebrate musical styles from all over the world.

"We received the award for the Laguna Beach Arts Alliance's Best New Arts Program for 2010," said Reynolds. "I think people love [the festival]."

Reynolds plays the French horn and performs with the Laguna Concert Band. Also, she is member of the LCB subset band, Laguna Swing Society. In 2010, Reynolds was named the Laguna Beach Woman's Club Woman of the Year for her efforts to promote the arts, among other activities, in Laguna Beach.

Volunteer musicians of many different genres performed for free at over 30 locations in Laguna Beach during the afternoon. Spectators snapped their fingers and clapped along with the tunes. Tiny tykes couldn't help but dance along with the music.

Deborah Glass and her daughter Hannah Glass performed next to Johnny Rockets. Mother played keys while daughter played violin. They were playing tango music.

"Tango was popular in France," said Deborah Glass, "and this is a French music festival."

"Hannah is the product of the Laguna Beach High School string program," said Deborah Glass. "We worked hard to get the program here. I'm the piano teacher in town. Hannah and I love living here and we love the music scene in Laguna Beach."

Ed Peterson and Lorraine Reafsnyder were enjoying the music of local singer and keyboard player Ginger Hatfield. 

"[The festival] is an incredible musical experience for the entire community," said Peterson.

To contact the Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association, email LBSCA President Karyn Philippsen at kphilippsen@lagunabeachsistercities.org.

[NOTE: If the video doesn't play properly, check it out on YouTube instead at this link.]

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