Big Fish, Small Pond, Big Pond, Small Fish (As also seen on www.Herrochester.com
By Pam Sherman | July 13, 2010
I recently wrote an article about an amazing family, the Belascos of Greece New York, who every year since 2007 have put on a concert in their back yard called Jazz on the Pond (www.jazzonthepond.org) to raise money for Eastman School of Music students. I was incredibly moved by their story, a story of family love, connections, giving back and the legacy of their Mom who passed away 29 years ago from cancer. I had the privilege of sharing their story and most important, the privilege of being present at the concert which took place on Cranberry Pond, This year the concert featured jazz trumpet legend Rick Braun, Chaka Kahn and students from the Eastman School of Music wowing us with their virtuosity. It was an amazing event and this year the family raised enough funds to send a student to Eastman for a whole year. They’ve nicknamed the event, Big Fish, Small Pond.
Here is the story behind the story.In March 2009 I met a woman at a wonderful YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization) conference in Miami (chronicled in this blog). She lives in LA across the country. We met again this year in Barcelona and she “friended” me on Facebook. And then she invited me to an event in Greece, New York in July. When I asked her how she even knew where Greece New York was, let alone about an event I’d never heard of in my own city, she told me…now get this, about a friend she met in CHINA who lived in LA but who grew up in Greece, New York and who was committed to giving back to his birth community. That guy, David Belasco, along with his sisters, is the impresario behind the Jazz on the Pond event.
At the event I met a whole host of people who remain committed to the community of their youth from afar, those who had never left, those who had left and moved back to raise their families, and those who spend each summer with their families in the area. I also met people from London, France, and of course LA.My friend arrived in Rochester along with three other friends from around the country, and I had the pleasure of introducing them to all the treasures of Rochester including: a great meal at Two Vine, a trip to the country-side to enjoy the world-famous Mackenzie-Childs, and brunch on the Erie Canal. I was incredibly proud to show off the gems of our community and most of all the generosity that is part of the fabric of Rochester.
But mostly I couldn’t help but think how each of us are small fish in one big pond. The pond connects us all. I flew across a big pond and met a new friend who brought me so many more new friends both at home and afar.
Because of that trip across the pond I was able to share a live intimate concert with my husband who is a huge Rick Braun fan and who, coincidentally on the night of our 25th anniversary this past December pulled over to listen to a Rick Braun song as we drove to our celebration. He told me that listening to this music made him love me even more (you know we all have songs that make our hearts more full right? I do now).
When I moved to Rochester I was well, I’ll say it, I was a big city snob. I had only lived in places that think they are the center of the universe: New York and DC. But now I realize that whether you live in a small city or a big one we are all somehow connected and the center of the universe travels with you. You never know who you are going to meet, and you never know what kind of pond you’ll be flying over or sitting at for a concert the next summer – you just have to remain open to the possibilities and magic will happen. Magic like being a part of the Belasco Family Foundation’s Annual Celebration of Jazz on the Pond for the Eastman School of Music. And did I mention they gave me the honor of the Jazz on the Pond Oar and made me cry? I hope to see you there next year - I know you will cry and laugh and sing and dance with me too - whichever pond you come from.
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