News - Local News

POSTED: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009

Mozart concerto inspired founder of piano studio, performance space

Tofer Wade recalls being really annoyed as a teenager when his father played loud classical music.

"Now sometimes I find myself blasting out classical, and I absolutely love it," said the 44-year-old coordinator of The Amadeus Project, an instructional and performance piano studio in Bellingham.

Wade didn't get into music until his 30s, but he turned out be a natural at the piano and now teaches composition and improvisation.

Question: Tell me about The Amadeus Project.

Answer: I started it at my home and moved to downtown Bellingham in January 2008, thanks to generous help from Ali Fouladi, our landlord. We have two top-notch grand pianos, a Schimmel donated by my father (John Wade of Birch Bay), and a Fandrich and Sons.

There are two primary aspects to The Amadeus Project. One, we're a school of piano composition and improvisation instruction for about 50 students, ages 5 to 65, in all genres of music, which is why we seek donations for scholarships. Two, we rent the concert hall at affordable or sometimes even free rates to various artists and artistic groups.

Q: Do your students find improvisation easier than composition?

A: Many do, since they find improv comes easier than reading music. My students who improvise in public are so much more confident than if they were reading a piece of music, because it arises out of who they are rather than having to be digested by an external source.

Q: You must love Mozart, right?

A: That's how The Amadeus Project got its name. At a dark, miserable time in my life, I found myself inspired by Mozart's 22nd concerto, which carried me up, then down, and back up again. It just hit me at the right time, bringing me from painful beauty to pure joy.

I had been teaching history and English, and I finally realized I should be teaching music.

I began teaching myself piano four or five years ago and decided I needed to get serious about my studies because I wanted to focus on composition and improvisation. Roger Briggs at Western recommended my first composition teacher, Andrea Rackl.

Q: Your wife is named Andrea ...

A: That's right ... we were married in August, and now The Amadeus Project is truly a team effort. She's been teaching for 18 years - since she was 15 years old. She's concert pianist for the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra.

ABOUT AMADEUS PROJECT

What: Upcoming events at The Amadeus Project, 1209 Cornwall Ave.

Nov. 1, 3 p.m. - "Invitation to the Dance," Ford Hill, Jeffrey Gilliam and Dan and Victoria Sabo perform two-piano, four-hand duets and solo piano dance music.

Dec. 13, 3 p.m. - "Insects, Elephants and Fred," Cassandra Carr and Victoria and Dan Sabo present music inspired by the written word, dramatic storytelling and poetry.

Dec. 19, 7 p.m. - "Christmas Solo," David Lanz performs solo piano.

Tickets: $15 adults, $12 seniors, $10 students, available at 671-6104 or 661-5984, and at bellinghamhouseconcerts@gmail.com.

Details: 815-1825, theamadeusproject.org, or toferwade@yahoo.com.