By Jodi Rawson
Reader Contributor
On the weekends the Reeds go out busking. They play long, haunting memorized solos, fast duets and familiar pop songs. With cash in their cases, they are professionals.
Max and Nichol Reed, with their violins. Photo by Dinah Rawson.
During Lost in the ‘50s, Max Reed played at Evans Brothers, and Fiddlin’ Red gave him a standing ovation.
“Perfect tone,” he said.
Jesus Quintero featured them in the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” because who doesn’t love a brother and sister violin duet?
Nichol Reed, 19, has been playing violin since age 10 and Max, 15, started playing a couple years later at age 8. They love playing and performing and that might be the best element (I have been a fan for years), but their tone and their repertoire have improved dramatically. Before the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint (MCS) occupied the old City Hall building, the Reeds were taught by MCS co-founder Ruth Klinginsmith.
Nichol was the Distinguished Young Woman from last year because she is beautiful, smart (4.1 GPA), talented and a great communicator (in two languages). Nichol was featured last year at the Festival of Sandpoint, and she received their scholarship, as well as scholarships from Rotary and CAL. She is wisely staying local and getting initial credits through NIC. Gifted in the sciences, she thinks she would like to educate herself in nursing, but music, she says, will always be a part of her life in some way.
Mark Reiner, the Pend Oreille Choral and Orchestra director, is featuring them in a Vivaldi Concerto June 14 and 16 at the First Lutheran Church. They have been dedicated to the community orchestra for years and Reiner appreciates “their whole family, their mom Elenor is so supportive.”
Elenor Reed has an infectious passion and she is a big fan of her kids. They are dual citizens with passionate Spanish conversations. Elenor drives Max to Spokane to work with Dr. Baldwin in the Spokane Youth Symphony weekly. Max is owning his violin, and is starting to train in other types of performing arts-acting and dance.
Catch these awesome performers June 14 at 7 p.m. and June 16 at 3 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church, 526 S. Olive Ave. Otherwise you might hear their violins in the heart of town or wafting out towards the City Beach from the lawn in front at Trinity.
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