Michael McQuilkin’s Family Music Hour began in December 2012 with the first-ever performance of the show celebrating local singers and musicians from the San Geronimo Valley area. It’s founder and visionary Michael McQuilkin recalls, ”I grew up in a family where music was always happening. I played the piano, my father played violin, my brothers played trumpet and conga drums, and we’d always have a concert every night.“ Michael has recreated this tradition of music-making which takes its cue from TV shows like The Lennon Sisters, The Smothers Brothers, and the radio show Prairie Home Companion. The motto “Music Brings Families Together” captures the spirit of the show which is now in its 8th year attracting sold-out audiences at every performance.
ABOUT MICHAEL MCQUILKIN
Michael McQuilkin grew up in a musical family in Rochester, NY. He studied piano with Eastman School of Music graduate Sylvia Cooley where he found an ability to “play by ear” in many musical genres. He was the musical director of his high school review and later participated in community theater shows while a resident in Bolinas, CA. He received the “Prune Music Award” as a first-time performer with Jan Tangen’s On Stage Music Camps playing along side such luminaries as Bobby McFarrin, Pee Wee Ellis, and vocalist Annie Stocking. Marin County entertainer John Allair says, “Michael is a great accompanist” which explains why he’s been so successful at backing up the many singers who’ve participated in the show over the years.
ABOUT THE SHOW
The Family Music Hour is a throwback to a time when the piano was the center of family life.
“People gathered to sing together with one another which fostered a spirit of comradery in our families and in our communities, something we’ve gotten away from in our busy computerized lifestyles” says Michael. One audience member remarked, “When I came to the show, I felt like I went back in time.” I think that’s because we remember what it felt like to gather together around the piano. And because it’s a community event, everybody on stage is “somebody’s somebody” and everybody up there gets a standing O regardless of age, musical experience, or expertise. We have had as many as three generations of family members performing together on stage and the effect is contagious.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
The Family Music Hour has partnered with local groups in the San Geronimo Valley from the very beginning. The San Geronimo Valley Community Center has collaborated with Lagunitas School to host the event since the first show in 2012. Our local radio station, KWMR in Pt. Reyes St., has been the show’s media sponsor helping to spread the word in pre-show radio interviews. Being a community affair, the FMH relies on contributions from many people who help produce everything from setting up chairs, running lights, building the stage, and serving refreshments. The phrase “It takes a village” is evidenced in the community’s hands-on approach which has ensured the show’s success and embodied our motto “Music brings families together.”