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The Telegraph-Journal (New Brunswick), Canada
October 5, 2013 Saturday
Shop owner helps outfit Armenian music school
MIRAMICHI, NEW BRUNSWICK - Tim Irving, owner of Irving Keyboard &
Millbank Music, is back home from across the Atlantic.
Irving was in Armenia to attend the grand opening of a music school in
a rural village where he has been working toward sending the school
more than 80 musical instruments over the summer.
He left Sept. 17 and returned on Sept. 23 with memories that will last
a lifetime.
"It was a wonderful feeling that it all came together, we did it,"
Irving said in an interview.
It's all related work with Who Cares, a super group put together for
the sole purpose of raising funds to build a new music school in
Armenia after the country was devastated by an earthquake in 1988.
Before his passing, keyboardist Jon Lord, a founding member of the
legendary British rock group Deep Purple, teamed up with the likes of
Purple vocalist Ian Gillan, guitarist Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath,
drummer Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden and ex-Metallica bassist Jason
Newsted to form Who Cares.
Irving's connection to Who Cares is tied to an instrument he gave to
his rock idol, Lord, a number of years ago. Irving owned a Hammond B-3
organ, the must-have rock organ of the '70s, which are rare today.
Irving's old B-3 was featured in a music video shot to accompany a
two-song CD single, Out "Of My Mind" and "Holy Water" and he has been
tied to the project, dedicated to helping the Armenia people rise from
the ashes, ever since.
Irving campaigned tirelessly to raise enough money to buy more than 80
instruments to donate to a new school that was buying built in a rural
village called Gyumri. The instruments were sent over in June but
Irving and Gillan were invited to attend the school's grand opening on
Sept. 20 to see the fruits of their labour.
When they arrived at the school after a two-hour drive in a large van,
a brass band orchestra began to play. Students and local musicians
were playing on some of the donated instruments Irving had helped send
over.
"It was unbelievable," said Irving, "People were applauding. There was
a massive sense of being overwhelmed, it was really emotional. Looking
at those citizens, you just felt so appreciated. No one had a dry
eye."
Armenia is a mountainous country in Eurasia. Its government system is
partly democratic and is run by a president, the head of a multi-party
system. There is also a prime minister, the most senior minister who
oversees the government's regular activities, who is appointed by the
president, both of whom Irving got to spend time during his four-day
stay.
Irving even attended a private dinner hosted by the prime minister to
discuss the project and thank Irving and Gillan for their work with
Who Cares. Irving said he has never experienced the paparazzi that
surrounded the school's opening.
"People would all come up to us in the streets," said Irving "Ian is
very well known for being in Deep Purple and (for his work in Who
Cares)."
Irving, Gillan, the president of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, the prime
minister, Tigran Sargsyan and their entourage were given a tour of the
school. Outside of the piano room was plaque, dedicated to Jon Lord,
who passed away July of last year after a long battle with pancreatic
cancer. The room housed Irving's old Hammond B-3, the one he had given
to Lord, where Irving had installed a plaque of his own.
"Ian and I couldn't hold back tears," he said.
The school was decorated with red and white balloons, flowers and
other things to show their appreciation for the instruments that came
from Canada. Irving gave out Canadian pins and City of Miramichi pins
as well as a couple of T-Shirts to some of the 200 grateful students.
"They just loved getting those, it's something from Canada."
Irving said he had the experience of a lifetime and has made
friendships with strong bonds, saying he will keep in touch with his
new friends via email.
"The first impression I had was how friendly our Armenian hosts were,"
he said. "They are great people and they made me feel very
comfortable. I felt like I was amongst friends that I had known for 30
years."
Irving also witnessed the country's lower standard of living, compared
to North America, and said that helped open his eyes as to how the
rest of the world lives, making him have a greater appreciation of
home.
"The country was stunning ... But you can see the challenges they have
had and have presently," said Irving, who described their lifestyle as
lacking in modern conveniences that North Americans are used to. "It
was an eye-opener."
Just because he accomplished his goal doesn't mean Irving is done
working to help the Armenian people.
"The need is still there," said Irving, who is going to try to send a
few instruments over at the start of every school year as par of the
Who Cares project by doing similar fundraisers, battle of the bands
and auctions.
"Who knows what's coming up next," said Irving, who would like to
thank those who participated in any of his fundraisers.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
October 5, 2013 Saturday
Shop owner helps outfit Armenian music school
MIRAMICHI, NEW BRUNSWICK - Tim Irving, owner of Irving Keyboard &
Millbank Music, is back home from across the Atlantic.
Irving was in Armenia to attend the grand opening of a music school in
a rural village where he has been working toward sending the school
more than 80 musical instruments over the summer.
He left Sept. 17 and returned on Sept. 23 with memories that will last
a lifetime.
"It was a wonderful feeling that it all came together, we did it,"
Irving said in an interview.
It's all related work with Who Cares, a super group put together for
the sole purpose of raising funds to build a new music school in
Armenia after the country was devastated by an earthquake in 1988.
Before his passing, keyboardist Jon Lord, a founding member of the
legendary British rock group Deep Purple, teamed up with the likes of
Purple vocalist Ian Gillan, guitarist Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath,
drummer Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden and ex-Metallica bassist Jason
Newsted to form Who Cares.
Irving's connection to Who Cares is tied to an instrument he gave to
his rock idol, Lord, a number of years ago. Irving owned a Hammond B-3
organ, the must-have rock organ of the '70s, which are rare today.
Irving's old B-3 was featured in a music video shot to accompany a
two-song CD single, Out "Of My Mind" and "Holy Water" and he has been
tied to the project, dedicated to helping the Armenia people rise from
the ashes, ever since.
Irving campaigned tirelessly to raise enough money to buy more than 80
instruments to donate to a new school that was buying built in a rural
village called Gyumri. The instruments were sent over in June but
Irving and Gillan were invited to attend the school's grand opening on
Sept. 20 to see the fruits of their labour.
When they arrived at the school after a two-hour drive in a large van,
a brass band orchestra began to play. Students and local musicians
were playing on some of the donated instruments Irving had helped send
over.
"It was unbelievable," said Irving, "People were applauding. There was
a massive sense of being overwhelmed, it was really emotional. Looking
at those citizens, you just felt so appreciated. No one had a dry
eye."
Armenia is a mountainous country in Eurasia. Its government system is
partly democratic and is run by a president, the head of a multi-party
system. There is also a prime minister, the most senior minister who
oversees the government's regular activities, who is appointed by the
president, both of whom Irving got to spend time during his four-day
stay.
Irving even attended a private dinner hosted by the prime minister to
discuss the project and thank Irving and Gillan for their work with
Who Cares. Irving said he has never experienced the paparazzi that
surrounded the school's opening.
"People would all come up to us in the streets," said Irving "Ian is
very well known for being in Deep Purple and (for his work in Who
Cares)."
Irving, Gillan, the president of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, the prime
minister, Tigran Sargsyan and their entourage were given a tour of the
school. Outside of the piano room was plaque, dedicated to Jon Lord,
who passed away July of last year after a long battle with pancreatic
cancer. The room housed Irving's old Hammond B-3, the one he had given
to Lord, where Irving had installed a plaque of his own.
"Ian and I couldn't hold back tears," he said.
The school was decorated with red and white balloons, flowers and
other things to show their appreciation for the instruments that came
from Canada. Irving gave out Canadian pins and City of Miramichi pins
as well as a couple of T-Shirts to some of the 200 grateful students.
"They just loved getting those, it's something from Canada."
Irving said he had the experience of a lifetime and has made
friendships with strong bonds, saying he will keep in touch with his
new friends via email.
"The first impression I had was how friendly our Armenian hosts were,"
he said. "They are great people and they made me feel very
comfortable. I felt like I was amongst friends that I had known for 30
years."
Irving also witnessed the country's lower standard of living, compared
to North America, and said that helped open his eyes as to how the
rest of the world lives, making him have a greater appreciation of
home.
"The country was stunning ... But you can see the challenges they have
had and have presently," said Irving, who described their lifestyle as
lacking in modern conveniences that North Americans are used to. "It
was an eye-opener."
Just because he accomplished his goal doesn't mean Irving is done
working to help the Armenian people.
"The need is still there," said Irving, who is going to try to send a
few instruments over at the start of every school year as par of the
Who Cares project by doing similar fundraisers, battle of the bands
and auctions.
"Who knows what's coming up next," said Irving, who would like to
thank those who participated in any of his fundraisers.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress