The Hormel Historic Home is committed to sharing our programming with the community through the promotion of musical opportunities for all ages.

We are carrying out the wishes of MarySue Hormel Harris by hosting concerts, workshops, recitals, and competitions that people can enjoy and grow from.

In a new program entitled “Music, Math, Myths … all Marvels!,” you will enjoy performances by four pre-selected pianists, and then hear how the composers of the music created their melodies. Did they hear these beautiful sounds and simply write as quickly as their fingers could move? Were they slowly evolving the music in their head, were they sitting at a piano or with an instrument? Was it improvisation that became a written composition?

Or was it a mathematical, scientific process of combining various sound waves, structured units of rhythmic emphasis creating a final masterpiece?

From 2 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6, you are invited to visit the Hormel Historic Home and hear how New York concert pianist and teacher, Peggy Reich, explains the writing process.  During the program you will hear compositions in various styles and gain an understanding of the composers’ minds. The event is free.

The Hormel Historic Home is part of another fun musical event happening in Austin on Friday, Oct. 14. With our annual music grant from MarySue Hormel Harris we are helping to sponsor the return of Davina and the Vagabonds to the Historic Paramount Theatre. If you have not had a chance to experience Davina, I strongly encourage you to do so on Oct. 14.

I say experience because it is more than just attending a concert. The group’s high energy shows combine “New Orleans charm with Memphis soul swagger and dark theatrical moments,” according to the group’s Facebook page.

NPR’s Mark Silver said, “Davina Sowers’ classically trained right fingers shimmy down the piano keys and meet up with an insistent boogie-woogie bass. Then she reveals her other musical talent: a sassy, salty, sweet voice that’s childlike at the top, husky at the bottom.”

If you are intrigued and are considering attending the concert, you might also like to meet Davina at a pre-show event to be held at the HHH.  From 5:30 to 7 p.m. you can enjoy cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres while in the company of Davina and her bandmates. Only 40 tickets will be sold to this exclusive meet and gree opportunity.  They are $20 and are available only at the Austin ArtWorks Center.

History Happy Hour: Stories of Orphan Train Riders, presented by author, Dorothy Lund Nelson

5:30 p.m. social, 6 p.m. presentation, Oct. 10

Free for members of the HHH, Mower County Historical Society and the Friends of the Library. $5 for non-members

Hearth & Home Series: History of Spam presented by Spambassadors and flavored with Spamples! 10 a.m., Oct. 18 Free

Best Bartender Contest Fundraiser

Doors open at 5 p.m., contest at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26

Choose your favorite bartender after they compete in eight challenges. Food available for purchase and live music by JT Thompson. $5 at the door