The Kokomo Tribune from Kokomo, Indiana • Page 9

I MJNIX I IMS') the go Places to go Pages 10 and 11 Updating the arts Page 13 Petra in concert Page 14 Thursday. Nov. 5, 1987 Kokomo (Ind.) Tribune 9 Tasmanian trip turns penpals into friends By Ken Ford Tribune staff writer The first face-to-face meeting with her pen pal turned out to be all Ann Sheridan expected. After corresponding for 17 years, the Kokomo woman finally met Christine Atkinson of Upper Natone, Australia, this fall. "We were so compatible.

It was like we lived next door or in the same town." Ann said. Former baton twirlers, Ann saw Christine's name in a baton twirling magazine, "Twirler," and the two began corresponding. "We would write about once a month, although in later years, it slacked off some," said Sheridan. Ann called Christine (her last name then was Ramsdale) for the first time the day before Christine married Ian Atkinson. The Atkinsons now have three children.

Actually, Ann's Delco Electronics' boss Don VerBrugge, played a major part in the reunion. About four years ago Ann had checked on prices for an Australian trip and decided the cost was too high. She told VerBrugge, who then was president of Delco Good- timers travel club, that he should arrange a tour. He set up a tour to New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii, and Ann had the chance she needed to visit her pen pal. Ann left the tour in Sydney and flew to Tasmania, an island south of Australia, where the Atkinsons live on their 600-acre dairy farm.

Ann stayed two days in Tasmania and Christine returned with Ann for a day's visit in Sydney where they rejoined the tour for a dinner and to see a play at the city's famed Opera House. While in Tasmania, Ann went wallaby hunting, drove a right- hand drive car in a dairy farm Ann Sheridan and Christine Atkinson posed for Australian newspaper (Photo provided) Ann shows off souvenirs from trip to Tasmania (Tribune photo by Brian Reynolds) paddock and threw a boomerang. Ann's gifts for her pen pal and family included T-shirts, a stuffed puppy, Elwood glass, and a key chain calculator for Ian. Christine's children are Bonnie, Dale and Leigh. When Leigh was born, Ann thinking it was a girl's name here sent girl clothes.

Leigh is a boy. Ann returned with an Australian swagman, a doll, jewelry and a wooden apple. Tasmania is famous for its wood and apples. She also came back with a lot of pictures 22 rolls. She is avid photographer and this year won a first place in the Indiana State Fair photo competition.

Ann visited New Zealand first, and so she was familiar with the Aussies' accent before she reached Australia. The Atkinsons liked her "accent." At first, though, the English accent tossed her. On leaving Los Angeles on a 300- passenger jet, she started conversation with a man who said his tour was over and he was returning to "Oakland." She thought they were leaving California and he was going the wrong way until she realized he was saying "Auckland." "Mate" came out "mite" to Ann's ears. Ann hopes Christine will return her visit in the future. But Christine has a problem; she has no Delco Goodtimers Club there to form a tour.

Renowned cellist Hilger to appear in concert here Play rehearsal Barbara Shelby, left, and Ted Haun rehearse their roles for "You Can't Take It With You," Kokomo Civic Theater's second production of the year. It is scheduled Nov. 13 through 15 in Havens Auditorium, Indiana University-Kokomo, under the direction of Ethel Wmdmiller. I ickets are $5 and $4 and may be reserved by calling 455-0877. Havens' box office is open nightly from 7 to 9 p.m.

beginning tonight. (Tribune photo by Paul Sancya) Country singer Judy Rodman set for Harrison fund-raiser Judy Rodman will be this year's featured entertainer for the Harrison Township Volunteer Fire Department's country music show. The show is scheduled Dec. 1 at Havens Auditorium, Indiana University-Kokomo. Two shows are scheduled at 7 and 9 p.m.

For ticket information, people may call 457-3529. As in previous years, funds from the show will be used to provide and install smoke alarms for the elderly and handicapped. The department also funds a lot of its equipment such as radios, breathing apparatus and portable generators. Rodman's latest hit, "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight," recently has ranked as high as fifth nationally on the country music charts. In October 1986, she was named "top new country female" by Billboard magazine.

Her albums include "Judy" and "A Place Called Love." Singles include "I've Been Had by Love Before," "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone," "Sure Need Your "Until I Met You," "She Thinks That She'll Marry," "Girls Ride Horses Too" and "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight." Her videos include "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone," "Sure Need Your Lovin'" and "Until I Met You." Reared in a musical family, Rodman made her peforming debut at 4, singing "Columbus Stockade Blues" with her father. She moved to Nashville, from Mississippi in 1980. Her background vocals include work with Crystal Gayle, George Jones, Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard, Janie Fricke, the Gatlins and Ray Charles. At the concert, sponsors will provide a program book containing fire safety information. Cellist Elsa Hilger will play at Grace United Methodist Church, 219 W.

Mulberry at 3 p.m. Nov. 15. She will be accompanied by pianist Catherine Baird. The concert will be sponsored by the Kokomo Morning Musicale.

Now 83, Hilger's training began at age 9 when she and her two sisters were enrolled in the Vienna Conservatory. At 24 she joined the Philadelphia Orchestra to become the first woman instrumentalist in the ranks of a leading symphony. In 1969 she retired from the Philadelphia Orchestra with which she performed throughout the world as a soloist and a principal cellist. The late Pablo Casals, considered the world's greatest cellist, called Hilger "a genius at the cello." Hilger and Baird have maintained an active recital performance, and Hilger has a class of private students. Concert appearances have included a command performance for long-time friend Baroness Maria Von Trapp, a recital at the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., and annual performances at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

A major seminar, "Orchestra Literature and Performance," was presented by Hilger at the Third American Cello Congress, held at Indiana University-Bloomington. Darrel Barnes, principal violist of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and a violist with the Lenox Quartet, and Sheryll McManus, concert pianist and pianist with the Lenox Quartet, praised Kokomo Morning Musicale for hosting the performance. "We are truly delighted to learn that cellist Elsa Hilger has been invited by the Morning Musicale of Kokomo to appear in recital this November. We have known Miss Hilger for over 20 years since Darrel was a colleague of hers in the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy." In the letter to the Indiana Arts Commission, Barnes and McManus also said, "We look forward with great anticipation to celebrating her appearance in Elsa Hilger in concert Nov. 15 Kokomo and wish to congratulate the Morning Musicale for presenting this unique opportunity for all to share in the enjoyment of one of the world's greatest cellists and human beings." Baird received her early musical training in Detroit with Margaret Anderson.

She attended the University of Michigan School of Music and as a Joseph Brinkman Memorial Scholarship winner, earned the degree Master (Photo provided) of Music in Piano Performance. Her principal teachers were Barbara Holmquest and Marian Owen. Baird and Hilger began performing together in 1979. There is no admission fee for the Kokomo performance which is sponsored with the support of the Indiana Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts and Casa del sol Violins Ltd. of Indianapolis.

Piano recitals here Sunday Judy Rodman here Dec. 1 Piano students of Barbara Coles will present two piano recitals Sunday at Grace United Methodist Church, 219 W. Mulberry St. Performing at 1 p.m. will be Constantine Alexander, Joe Blauvelt, Kristin Brockman, Kyle Brust, Jennifer Butzin, K.C.

Cline, Darrin Delgado, Dana Forehand, Amy Hamilton, Meagan Hamilton, Alicia Hasan, Cami Hyman, Audry Jackson, Nami Kawamoto, Carrie Kerr, Joanna Killingbeck, Kim Kurowsky, Suzi Lavengood, Kelly Anne Lord, Derek McCleary, Chris McGavic, Jenna McGavic, Aaron Morehead, Janet Pugh and Shelly Sethi. Performing at 3 p.m. will be Alison Albright, Angie Albright, Bethany Albright, Bonnie Blair, Jodi Brooks, Cheri Brown, Catha Cofield, Carmen Dungan, Amy Evans, Amber Fording, Debbie Hill, Christi Johns, Dawn Kjeldsen, Cheri Lutz, Kristi Lutz, Allyson Rodabough, Amy Rodabough, Cami Sea well, Cheryl Seawell, Angie Templin, T.J. Widner, Elizabeth Yoon, Jennifer Yoon and Susan Yoon. The public is invited..