By Katherine Lee Bourné
Hi all! It’s me, Katherine
Lee, checking in with the next blog post for our
Bourné Family: Welcome to Our Home Katten/Landau Studio Series
concert! We are totally excited to be performing in the Auditorium Theatre’s
new concert venue THIS SATURDAY! Without further ado, here’s a bit about my
family, myself, our music, and the show!
I will begin by giving you a
run-down of what everyone does. In addition to singing: Mom plays with her harp
and tambourine; Liz tinkers on the piano; Chris looks at her acoustic guitar; I
arrange our music, struggle with my acoustic guitar and the piano, and recently
had the audacity to put my mouth to a saxophone; Paul plays piano; Tim plays
electric and acoustic guitar; Bek plays acoustic guitar, piano, violin, a spot
of drums, and is embarking on the bass guitar; Ehron plays the flute and a
touch of piano; and John plays drums, piano, a bitty bit of acoustic guitar,
and just took up harmonica two weeks ago.
I consider myself the middle
child of the Bourné family even though there is an even number of siblings.
However, I have justification for feeling that way because there are five years
between Christina (Bourné #2) and me and then another 5 years between Paul
(Bourné #4) and me, whereas the rest of us are a stair-step or two apart, so,
that's my validation for middle-child syndrome.
Also, in our house, there are two groups: those born before '85, thereby
christened the first set, AKA, the old folks/fogies, olders, or the big people;
and those born after '90 referred to as the second set, AKA, the children, you
ngers, or the little people. Since I belong to neither
group, I am kind of like the bridge between the two and everyone's go-to-girl.
I do hair, pick outfits, shop, help with work and school projects; you name it,
for everyone. I'm like the family consultant. For some reason my judgment is
really respected in our house and my help and opinion are always called upon.
The solution to every query or unfulfilled desire is, "Ask/Tell
Katie." Being in between the age groups, I didn't really have a sibling
playmate so Mom was my best friend and still is. I think that's an added plus.
My position in the family fits my personality perfectly. I was born for this!
A little something about me:
Q: Are any of you married?
A: No. But, thanks everyone
who thinks we would make perfect spouses.
Q: Does everyone live in the
same house?
A: Yes. There's actually an
ideology behind why, but that would take too long to explain.
Q: What’s up with all the big
hair?
A: Letting everyone’s hair
grow out began as a funny experiment in trying to look like cartoon characters and
turned into a Bourné trademark. I’ve heard people recall us as…"That big
family with all the hair.”
Q: When did you all start
singing?
A: As children around the
house. Our parents started out the same way and were in band and choir in
school growing up and tried their hand at songwriting together. There was/is always music playing in the
house. I remember sitting around the stereo with everyone having snacks after
Liz and Chris would get home from school and singing along to old records as a
toddler. The first time we sang as a family was at a candlelight Christmas Eve
service at our church. That was before some of us were even born. We started
travelling and singing about three years ago. We never planned on being a
singing family troupe but I think that’s been the plan all along all the same.
Q: What’s it like being in
such a big family?
A: I don’t know about being in
anyone else’s big family, but I love being a part of mine. I mean seriously,
whom would we trade out for whom else or whom would we send…back? Right, so…
It’s pretty cool. I always have at least one someone to talk to and if I don’t
feel like talking to anyone, we know each other so well I don’t have to say it.
Also, for us, it doesn’t seem like we are that many people anyway. By the time
we’re all in a room, we stop and count to make sure it’s really all nine of us
there, we seem so few sometimes. Of course it’s hilarious when we all go to a
store or restaurant together and have to explain that yes we all are indeed
together and that no we are not a group of sisters and their children: we are
eight children and one mama!
Q: Who organizes the music?
A: That would be yours
truly…me!
For our show this Saturday, we
are doing a capella/acoustic compilation. We were going to pull out all the
drums and what have you, but thought about it and realized that's not how it
would be if you were visiting us at home. By opening up our hearts to you in
song, we welcome you into our home! The first set will be a tribute to famous
families of song, and the second set will be a showcase of our original music.
I had the hardest time narrowing down the selections for the performance, but I
think you will enjoy everything! Everyone is excited and a bit nervous, but
really looking forward to the evening with all of you. Thanks for planning to
attend! So, until Saturday…I remain respectfully yours.
Katherine
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Venue: Auditorium Theatre Katten/Landau Studio, 425 S. Wabash
Dates: Saturday, July 21, 2012
Times: 8:00 pm
Price: $35-$25
