Connie Scanlon

Connie was born on November 27, 1946, and grew up in South Lincoln, Maine, a small community which was settled by her great grandfather, John McGregor in the early nineteen hundreds. Very early in life she was fascinated by the arts. Reading, writing and drawing were her pastimes but behind the piano was always where she could be found. At the age of six she started her piano lessons with Louise Bell, in Lincoln.

After graduating from Mattanawcook Academy in 1964, she entered Boston Conservatory where she received her Bachelor of Music and her Master from New England Conservatory. She was a student of Katja Andy.

Traveling and adventure were her spice of life, and she followed many piano Master Classes in Europe combining sightseeing and culture. In 1974 she decided to make The Netherlands her new home and there she met her life partner. Together they formed a piano duo and concertized throughout The Netherlands and Belgium between 1980 and 1992.

After recovering from health problems life took a new turn and in 1997 music slowly disappeared into the background giving her the possibility of developing a different layer of her being. She became involved in a school of meditation and for twelve years had a position as director and teacher at the institute People and Intuition in Amersfoort, The Netherlands. This experience broadened her insight into life, people and her own physic and emotional development.

In 2009 she and her partner decided to return to the United States and Connie reunited with her family after nearly forty years living abroad. They moved into their home on Silver Lake (Mattakeunk), in Lee, Maine where there was again time for music. The piano duo started playing again and picked up where it left off in 1992. Connie watched her fingers protest when practicing scales and arpeggios, but with amazement watched her fingers fly over the keys while playing a Mozart Sonata. The power of music and inspiration turned the fingers into instruments serving music after twenty-two years of not playing and studio concerts became a regular happening in Lee. Also, a full recital at the U. of Maine in Orono was on the agenda.

Their house was open to concert visitors after each performance, offering an opportunity to exchange thoughts and experience over music and get to know each other better.

In this same time period, she and her partner also offered meditation classes to all who were interested. During the summer periods, open evenings were held twice a month in the Grange Hall where not only the local villagers but also the tourists were welcomed.

2019 was the year to move back to The Netherlands and reunite again with the country, family and friends. How difficult it is having to choose between countries and living spaces. The move back to The Netherlands felt and feels right and the use of social media makes communicating much easier.