::Official Gariepy Music Website 2006::

Imaginations

Area pianist ticklin’ the ivory at Toledo Zoo
Gariepy to play songs from his “Reflections of Christmas” CD

By HEATHER BAUGHMAN
Staff Writer

NAPOLEON - The magic of Christmas at the Toledo Zoo and its "Lights Before Christmas' display will be illuminated with the sounds of the holiday season when local pianist Dan Gariepy performs selections from his first CD, “Reflections of Christmas," in the zoo museum's theater at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, and Saturday, Dec. 7.
	A dream come true for the young musician, Gariepy said, "Last year I was walking through the zoo with a few friends attending the “Lights Before Christmas: and I thought to myself and then related to them, ‘How cool would it be if I did a concert up here of Reflections of Christmas’."
	One to see his dreams become a reality, Gariepy talked with zoo officials, who gladly agreed to the shows.
	Much like many of his experiences in life, Gariepy said, "God has opened the door for me to perform there in their theater with an approximate capacity of 400.  I'm doing these concerts in goodwill and feel this would be a great opportunity for those who are staying so busy in the season to sit back, relax and enjoy a peaceful show.”
	Admission to each show is as simple as paying admission to the zoo.
	Gariepy said this will be his first big performance where he will have live accompaniment, featuring Mike Cole on the keyboards and local popular violinist Arich Whitlock.
	“I'm so excited to do this project because playing at the zoo in itself, for me, is a dream come true, but my intentions for this concert are that it becomes a 'dream' for those who come as well.
	"Performing with me are some of the finest musicians around the area with whom I am highly blessed to be working with," Gariepy said.  "Also adding to the overall excitement of this project are the works of CWT Enterprises in Wauseon.  This graphics company is working closely with me in producing a videography show that will enhance the concert in all aspects, taking the concert (guests) past the sense of hearing and adding visualizations as well.  I feel this is going to be a fantastic, one-of-a-kind performance people won't want to miss."
	While Gariepy is looking forward to the live performances at the zoo, he is also eagerly awaiting the release of his second CD, "Secret Place," which is due to come out in December.  
	Gariepy said "Reflections of Christmas” told the story of Christmas.  “There's just something special about the presence it evokes.  It just seems to continually point people to the true meaning behind Christmas, and the peace that's found there.”
	While he said his new CD takes that same style, Gariepy said it "tells a different story, a story about searching for peace within oneself, a story that looks for the true meaning to life.  With all that is happening in the world, many are thinking about this more and more.
	“Secret Place' comes from the belief that we all have a secret place we can go to just be alone with the creator, our dad (God).  It's a place where all things that surround us become shadows, and we can truly focus on our inner selves, and the true meaning there.
	"My 'secret place' happens to be at the piano.  When I begin playing, I just mentally run to that place and abide there - from that point the music just seems to be an overflow of the heart."
	When creating the music for the CD, Gariepy said he "felt the urge to try and depend on myself and look to my own creativity while composing... But, God truly showed me that it's in Him that things come together, and not by our own skills or talents. I feel like once again, there is something truly magical about the music that’s been written through me.  It’s a new territory for me... and unexplored realm.”
Continuing to grow spiritually and musically, Gariepy said, "I think anyone who listens to the CD will hear the change, in musicianship since the last project. I've experienced so many things and so many new thoughts are related through the music.  I feel that I'm playing with a new wave of confidence, confidence that I'm using the gift God has given me in this season of my life in the right way.  The fact that the music speaks to the listener is so satisfying to me as an artist. That's what we strive for."
Through his fingers on the piano, Gariepy said he is most fulfilled when he knows the message of his music has touched another's soul.  "An artist tries to communicate a certain idea or expression to another, and when it is understood, there's such a sense of self-fulfillment and contentment.  What you've been working for has finally been achieved."
"Secret Place" will soon be available in Defiance at living Waters Christian Book stores, Unique Little Gift Shop at Northtowne Mall, Distinctive Designs in Napoleon, and many other stores throughout the area.  They are also available online at wwwgariepymusic.com. Music samples of the new CD are also available at the website.
	While recording the CD and finding his own secret place, Gariepy said, "I vividly remember recording the song 'Breathe' by Marie Barnett.  The song speaks about how people are so longing and desperate for something in their lives that goes beyond them.
'To really keep this in perspective I had the producer turn off all the lights in the studio except for one very dim one - shining down just enough to make the area around the keys visible.  In front of me I kept three pictures that I had taken on my trip to India - three pictures of people who were desperate for something in their lives, pictures of people who quite possibly went hungry on several occasions because of a lack of food.  I remember the look in their eyes as they longingly looked to me to help them out of their situation.  It's things like those that really put things in perspective for me. Things like those that constantly remind me of how blessed we are as Americans, and how, in a sense, we are all like them in that we're all in a desperate situation looking for help.
" 'Secret Place' is about cutting past all the masks we put on in life, and finding a place where we are really desperate for something more, something beyond ourselves, something where we can find ourselves complete."

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