Jen Hajj to open Big Productions concert series
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POLSON — Big Productions, a fundraising venture of the Lake County Youth Home, kicks off its 2013-2014 season on Oct. 22 with a concert featuring singer/songwriter Jen Hajj. The first concert will be at the Polson High School auditorium and will begin at 7:30 p.m. The Jen Hajj production is co-sponsored by Mac Swan at Mission Bay Realty.
Comfort food in musical form, delivered with an angel's voice. It's what you'd want to hear while sharing a warm blueberry muffin with a dear friend, or settling down in your favorite chair for a delicious nap. It is the music you want while you pet a purring cat. It stirs you to be the person you want to be. It is deeply thoughtful, yet confident, rousing. That's Jen Hajj.
Birds and nature creep into her music on a regular basis, including her award winning song, "Raptor Bird" about the ecology of birds of prey. Jen spent her childhood in Tempe, Arizona, taking piano lessons, chasing lizards, and singing in church and school choirs. She moved to Utah in the mid-1980's where her musical career began to take shape, singing with various choirs (school, professional and semi-professional groups) and moving her way into the church music scene. She studied vocal performance and composition at the University of Utah, but dropped out after two years, realizing that she wanted to connect with real people.
Jen has also pursued life as a scientist. She has a degree in Biology and a Masters in Parks, Recreation and Tourism, specializing in natural resources interpretation. Birds and nature creep into her music on a regular basis. In fact, her award winning song, "Raptor Bird" is about the ecology of birds of prey.
She knew she needed a portable instrument (the pipe organ is not a folk instrument!) so she picked up the guitar. She honed her skill in bluegrass jams, and later took lessons to fill in the gaps and learn the styles that she found most interesting. She attended folk and bluegrass festivals and camps and met extraordinary folks who make a living doing music. People like Cosy Sheridan, Kate MacLeod, Brooks Williams, Randall Williams, Joe Jencks: these amazing artists became her mentors and models for success.
After a reduction in force at her job where she taught about the life and times of birds of prey, Jen seized the opportunity to make a change. She sold her furniture, rented her house, placed her piano in the loving care of a friend, and moved to San Diego. It is a new adventure that continues to unfold.
For Jen, being a part of the folk music scene is like coming home. She hopes that when you hear her sing, you feel it, too.
Tickets are available in Ronan at Hanson & Granley True Value and in Polson at Shannon Nunlist Physical Therapy or The Terrace Flowers and Gifts. In St. Ignatius, contact Dr. Vic Davis at the Garden Wall Clinic. As has been the custom with the Big Productions series, a variety of ticket choices are available. Single tickets are $12 in advance and $14 at the door. Advance tickets can also be ordered for pick up at the concert. Call (406) 676-2427 or email brit_gardner@hotmail.com. All youth under 18 are admitted free, however children under 12 must be accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.
The Big Productions series is the largest rural concert series in Montana, but it would not happen without its loyal sponsors: Access Montana, Ronan Harvest Foods, H&R Block in Polson, Jim and Cindy Willis, Don Aadsen Ford, Super 1 Foods, and Anderson Broadcasting make the series possible.
With the passing of long-time concert coordinator Chas Cantlon, a committee has been formed to continue the series. Anyone interested in joining the committee is invited to contact Trish Rodrique: trishandmike55@gmail.com
