Featured Fans ~ Maggie

Featured Fans - Maggie Worman
Andre Friends Wall

I’ve been under the impression that I found Andre Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra in 1996. I didn’t. I did some backtracking; where I was and what I was doing at the time, and to my surprise, it turns out it was in April of 1998. I came home from work, turned on the TV, and began channel checking for something relaxing to watch. I hit a channel, saw an audience, heard beautiful classical music, and stopped. And, suddenly, there HE was! I thought what are those women doing in beautiful dresses, and what the heck is a conductor doing playing a violin with his back to the orchestra? How can he conduct like that? Then I thought –who cares? Eat your heart out Leonard Bernstein, this is fantastic! Brought up to love and appreciate classical music, I had never seen or heard a concert the like of this one. I was hooked before the piece ended.

For sheer “technical” genius, I still consider Issac Stern, the finest violinist who ever lived, but for virtuosity, versatility, and pure listening pleasure, no one can beat Andre Rieu. Nor can they match the joy and love he puts into music. Even better than that, he has the ability to make you feel it as well. (he sure isn‘t hard to look at, either) Another magic moment came when I found Andre’s web site. Reading all the entries in the Guestbook, I decided to get my feet wet. That was back in the days when addresses were allowed. So, hesitantly, cautiously, a little apprehensively, I sent an e-mail to somebody named Sonja Harper. Then I worried. What if she didn’t want me intruding in her life? What if she didn’t care what I thought or felt. What if …? What if …? I don’t even remember now what I said in that message, but lo and behold, she answered and, like with Andre Rieu, I was hooked. Sonja was my first “Andre Friend.” We’ve corresponded for five years, (my, gosh! Has it been that long?) Others were added as I saw questions in the Guestbook I could answer, and wrote rather than clog up Andre’s site – there wasn’t enough room, anyway, since I tend to get long winded. I’m a writer, you see. Oh, not a well published one, but some little things here and there. My e-mail address list grew longer, and I began to wonder what all these people looked like.

I’d found Sonja’s first web site by now, knew her face, and was mesmerized reading all those interview translations. Then I happened to write to Mike Connelly, (Australia) to answer a question he’d put in the Guestbook – don’t remember what that was either, but in the course of a few e-mails, I asked him if he would send me a picture. He sent two. One of himself with all his Andre collection around him, and one with his wife Annette. Well, says I, if one person will give me a photograph, why not ask for more? Pauline Sheehan (Ireland) sent one of her and her husband, Tim. Then Marsey Peterson. (NC) I stuck them in a little folder and would look at them now and then when I had a message from them. By that time I had moved from Joplin to Carl Junction, a little town five miles or so away. I had a nice roomy house with a lot of empty wall space, and one day it hit me. I would put the three pictures on the wall. At first, I called it my Andre Wall, but I wasn‘t satisfied with that, and didn‘t have a picture of him, anyway. No, these were my friends, this was their wall, so it became my Andre Friends Wall. Another picture arrived from Monique Hoogzaad (Holland) with her friend Thea in those giant wooden shoes.

Peter van de Graaff hosts Classics with the Net Advantage, a classical music radio program I listen to at KXMS 88.7. I wrote to him about giving Andre a plug on his show. He graciously thanked me, and explained the show is syndicated, taped a year in advance, and he was not able to do it. He does know of Andre and sometimes uses music Andre has recorded on the program. Incidentally, Peter has a great voice. I asked for a picture and got it – autographed.

Just before the St. Louis concert, Kerstin, Andre’s tour manager, sent me a picture so I would recognize her when I got there. She was a sweetheart, and cute as a button. Up on the wall she went.

Then came the Ames, IA concert where I finally got to meet Sonja for the first time. With her were Sigrun Haertel, (Germany) Trudy Klapper, (Michigan) Kay Carroll, (Nebraska) another Kaye whose last name escapes me, and several others. I had my daughter’s digital camera with me and those ladies pictures, too, went on the wall hot off my computer printer. Since this was now quite an international group, I really needed the “leader of the pack” up there with them. I did it! I ordered a picture of Andre.

Out of the blue, Janny van Wingerden from Holland wrote me, and what a delight she has been. She became mijn onderwijzer, ik leren nederlands spreekt. (I probably said that wrong). She sent a picture of her and her husband Wim. Then came Anne and Erik Buch. (Denmark) Next came friends Marian Reeder (Texas), Faith Carlton (NC) and my two dear friends five miles away Shirley Kirk and Netta Galardo and of course, my wall wouldn't be complete without a picture of my sister, Til (Matilda) Weitzel.

Netta and I work together, too. She happens to be half Cherokee Indian, so now our own original native Americans are there. To my disappointment I have no other races represented and wish I could meet and find friends among them. That makes 23 plus Andre, and there is room for more. Some have been promised, but haven’t arrived yet. If you’re reading this and I haven’t asked you for a picture, I will the next time I hear from you – I may have to use a bigger wall, but count on it.

I look at that wall and the pictures and think “I know people around the world, and they know who I am.” But what means the most is that we are friends. How on earth could this ever have happened if it hadn’t been for Andre Rieu? I admire his talent, I enjoy and love his music, I respect his genius in what he has accomplished. But I am in absolute awe at what this one man has done to promote peace and harmony in the world. I sincerely hope Holland knows what a national treasure she has in Andre Rieu. I’m sure Marjorie does.

My love to all, and send me your picture!!!

Maggie