Quick study and 'awesome' talent save concert
By MICKIE McGEE

Classical musicians (from left) Emily Wasson, Erin Horner, and Brian Horner were relieved to find local pianist Peyson Moss (right) who saved their performance by filling in for their sick pianist.

A Sunday afternoon presentation of the Washington Music Festival billed as "An Afternoon of Classical Music" featuring four nationally acclaimed musicians was almost cancelled due to the illness of one of the stars, but a local talent saved the day.

Erin Thomas Horner, who plays the french horn; her husband Brian Horner, acclaimed saxophonist; Emily Wasson, clarinetist; and Kevin Chance, pianist, were scheduled to perform in concert at the Washington Little Theatre as part of a gala weekend that included a performance by local talent and Grammy award winner Hillary Lindsey.

The popular quartet has recorded with such entertainers as Keith Urban, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Michael W. Smith, Trisha Yearwood, Sara Evans, Michael McDonald, Phish's Trey Anastasio, and Bon Jovi, among others.

On Saturday, the group received word that Chance was ill and would be unable to perform on Sunday. Frantic for a replacement, Washington townspeople made calls to the University of Georgia music department seeking someone who could play, not only on such short notice, but who would be able to tackle the difficult piano arrangements already programmed and orchestrated by the group.

Unfortunately, when several UGA musicians were contacted, each declined saying they couldn't perform with such little notice. "I wouldn't even attempt to play such complicated arrangements with no more time than this to prepare," said one.

By 5 p.m. all calls had been to no avail when a staff member of the WLT had an idea.

A phone call to Peyson Moss, Lincoln County High School senior and full-time pianist at Washington's First Baptist Chuch, saved the day.

Despite his already busy weekend work schedule, Moss agreed to make the trip to Washington to meet with the musicians.

It didn't take long before all concerned knew they had found a most competent replacement for Chance, winner of the Jerald C. Graue Fellowship for Excellence in Musicology at the renowned Eastman School of Music. In addition, Chance, a student of Ann Schein and Herbert Stessin, has performed at the Aspen Music Festival, all over the United States and abroad as both soloist and collaborator.

"We were absolutely amazed at Peyson's ability to sight-read!" said Mrs. Horner. "He not only agreed to fill in at literally the last minute, he plays as if he's played with us for years."

Mr. Horner agreed. "Peyson is awesome. It's unbelievable that someone only 18 years old has the capability to play like he does."

While Lindsey was performing Saturday evening, the newly formed foursome was practicing at First Baptist awaiting a fax from Chance in Birmingham that included the music for Sunday's performance. The fax arrived at 9 p.m.

"I had a feeling I could do it," said Moss. "I was just a little uneasy never having played with such a famous group of musicians before and I knew I had only a few hours to learn the arrangements."

A standing ovation by a packed house at Washington Little Theatre Sunday afternoon was proof that when "The Show Must Go On" sometimes it takes an amateur to actually make it happen.

Brian and Erin Horner will be performing this month at Carnegie Hall in the New York premiere of Two Wedding Pieces, a suite written for them by composer M. Zachary Johnson and which they performed for the first time in public at Sunday's recital.

Moss is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Moss of Lincolnton and will enter Mercer University in the fall with a double-major, music and biology.

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