Kaito Stohr
I visited Camphill Kimberton for the first time in August 2024, a few days before I started my first year of college. Bob Martin (Director of Development and member of the community) has been a family friend for many decades since he and my grandmother played in the same string quartet together—he pronounced my parents husband and wife!
I was immediately interested in participating in the Chamber Music Residency Program—the community seemed to be a wonderful place (not to mention Rose Hall, which is one of my favorite halls for its unique architecture), but it was a challenge to find the right people to collaborate with. As luck would have it, my path crossed with Kielor Tung, a violinist and violist who was then a senior at Swarthmore College, and Bob Martin himself offered to be the cellist of our group. Bob generously drove an hour south to rehearse with us on multiple occasions so we would be better prepared for the residency and concert.
Upon arriving, we (Kielor, Bob, Katherine Martin, and I) headed up the hill to a potluck outside Rose Hall. As Bob led us through the crowd, he greeted all the villagers by name, I remember hoping that I would get to know some of the villagers well enough that I could greet them in the same way by the time the residency was over, which I am happy to say came to pass!
Kaito, Kielor and Bob performing in Rose Hall
A day or two later, I participated in the pottery workshop, while Kielor went off to volunteer in the bakery. I sat at a table with a coworker and several villagers who all helped me to make my first bowl. There was a wonderful collaborative feeling as we passed around tools and checked in on each other’s progress. A father of one of the villagers came to visit for the second half of the workshop, and they worked together to finish a bowl while catching up on what had happened in their lives since his last visit.
As we prepared to leave for lunch, one villager asked me repeatedly if I knew where I was going and needed help to get to my destination. Since I had a map, I assured her I would be fine, and watched as she cruised effortlessly down the road on her bike and out of sight. I soon found out she had good reason to be concerned—I kept questioning if I was on the right path to Franklin House, but I made it in the end!
After the same villager helped me take off and hang up my now-rain-soaked jacket, villagers and coworkers and myself filled each other in on the day’s events over delicious food prepared by the host family. To see villagers, coworkers and the host family caring for each other on such a deep level was a moving experience for me.
During the Residency: Kaito, Bob and Kielor practice together in Rose Hall.
The concert was one of the most fulfilling musical experiences I have ever been a part of. I remember feeling very nervous for the first movement of the opening piece, but the applause we received after the movement gave me the confidence to play my best for the rest of the concert, which is an amazing feeling for an artist on stage. More than any other concert setting, I felt that we were genuinely appreciated. After the concert, we talked at length with both villagers who I was meeting for the first time and had met before, and the joy they emanated was infectious. I would highly recommend the opportunity to play at Camphill Kimberton for any musicians interested in applying.