Page 38 - SPIRE Digital Version SEP-DEC 2024 9th Issue
P. 38
summer of 2019, started their love affair
with The Spire. “After seeing Grace Kelly, I
felt inspired to start playing music again,”
says Alan. “I bought some new equipment
so I can create and record it. I’m in the
process of having my saxophones
overhauled and hope to start playing in the
future.” Alan has been waking up early on
Monday mornings, when Spire tickets go on
sale, to score their coveted seats ever
since.
For both, music appreciation started early.
“My father nurtured my love of music—
especially jazz—when I was young. He
loved greats like Lionel Hampton and Art
Blakey,” recalls Alan. “He would bring me to
see Central PA Friends of Jazz shows. At
12, I met an improv piano player.” At these
performances, the energy of jazz—in
particular piano and sax—struck a chord.
Alan began to play, and he quickly
advanced. As a high school student, he was
even invited to play sax in the
Elizabethtown College jazz band.
Megan’s deep connection to music has
been lifelong as well. Her grandmother was
PATRON SPOTLIGHT Photo by Lori Leveckis. a pianist, and Megan holds a Theater Arts
degree. She has performed in live theater,
TV ads, and music videos for years. Damn Band.” In unison, they chime in: “We
both love Glenn Miller!” Another point they
MEGAN & ALAN DUPES Moreover, while she does not play an agree upon: The Spire’s amazing lobby
instrument, Megan has unique musical
shows. Megan relishes their intimacy: “I
sensibilities. “When I meet someone for the
first time,” she muses, “I immediately assign feel I’m right there with the artist, part of
BY LORI LEVECKIS a song to them.” Later in life, Megan’s the entertainment, rather than being a
appreciation for music took a more serious passive member of the audience.” For Alan,
Where would The Spire be without its Plymouth in 1996. Alan is a mechanical turn. In 2015, she suffered a devastating the lobby shows are reminiscent of his
patrons? Whether they are first timers, engineer at Moderna; Megan is a cannabis stroke that left her in a coma for nine days. early years “sneaking into little jazz bars
awed by The Spire’s incredible energy and educator, consultant, and “bud tender” at “It was music therapy at Spaulding when I was under 21 to watch jazz jams.”
architecture, or regulars who return often Greenrock Cannabis in Rockland. Fittingly, Rehabilitation that brought me out of it and Like those verboten venues of his youth,
to experience the ever-changing the couple initially met through music on a led me to recovery,” she reflects. Noting the lobby shows, he notes, are “tight and
kaleidoscope of talent crossing the Spire school trip in 1987—she a flag twirler and the therapeutic power of music, Megan also tiny.”
stage, our patrons are our lifeblood. Meet he a saxophone player in the high school recalls, “I remember that when my father Together, the Dupes reflect on the power
Megan and Alan Dupes, two such devoted marching band. After his performance in a was in a nursing home and unresponsive, it of music to unite and heal: “You can go
Spire patrons. On any given evening, just jazz concert, Alan approached Megan, who was his favorite music and songs that anywhere in the world and not speak the
peek at seats A2 and A4, and you’re more had been operating lighting for the show, would bring him to tears.” language,” marvels Megan, “and music
than likely to find them sitting there with and a first date soon followed. They have provides the bridge.” Alan adds, “Music is
two cold Cokes from the bar, sometimes been together now for 37 years, married for What are their favorite Spire shows? “Ana the language. Four musicians who have
accompanied by twin sons Isaac and 32, sharing a mutual passion for music all Popovic and Storm Large,” says Megan, never met before can gather in a room,
Nathan, age 26. the while. without hesitation. Alan (not surpringly) make sounds together, and for just a
Music enthusiasts hailing from Central Their first two shows here, The Rebirth confesses, “I love all the blues and jazz moment, it is possible to forget the strife of
Pennsylvania, the Dupes relocated to Brass Band and Grace Kelly, both in the shows—acts like Reverend Peyton’s Big the world.”
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