Final Amati concert launches Marla Cole fund
The memory of Marla Cole lives on in a concert that brings both closure and a new beginning.
“She really was the most incredible woman I’ve ever met,” said Geoff Cole, her husband of 20 years.
Long associated with the Amati Quartet, Marla Cole died in September from cancer. She was 49. Geoff has organized a final Amati concert to raise money for the Marla Cole Memorial Fund.
“Naturally, it took awhile to get over the shock of what had happened,” he said. “I thought, ‘What would Marla do?’”
“She was so passionate about everything she did yet was able to give back to everyone in her life. She always made time for everyone.”
The memorial fund will be administered by the Saskatoon Foundation. With seed money of $10,000, it could provide an annual award of $350 to a string chamber player at the Saskatoon Music Festival. Concert proceeds and sales of the group’s two CDS will go to the fund.
Geoff said Marla’s loss has been keenly felt over the past nine months.
“So many people have reached out. So many people have come up to me — Marla’s friends and students — to tell me stories about how Marla inspired them,” he said.
“I guess I knew how fantastic Marla was, but when you hear these personal stories ...”
The concert features Cole, Rudy Sternadel and Terence Sturge, with “kindred spirit” Sam Milner taking Marla’s chair.
“Sam plays in such a similar way to Marla, it was just so comforting to hear the quartet again,” said Geoff.
The 15th and final Amati season would have launched last fall, the final concert a copy of the first. But Geoff has altered it to feature Marla’s favourite pieces. The Amati instruments — two violins, viola and cello — are owned by the University of Saskatchewan. There are only three collections in the world, and the other two are in museums and not played, Geoff said.
“I don’t know what the future will hold for these instruments. It’ll be left to the university now to set a new direction for them.” He added: “The university has been very supportive, not just over the past 15 years, but in making sure we’ve got everything we need for this final concert.”
Repertoire:
Haydn Op 74 No 3 (Rider) Slow movement Brahms No. 3 Op 67 B flat major
Philip Glass Company Slow movement Schubert Rosamunde A minor Op 29 Dvorak American F Major Op96