A couple uncanny concert coincidences

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The Wanamaker Organ is located in the grand court of Macy's in Philadelphia (photo by Kent Miller Studios for Macy's)

Just before heading up to Saint Cloud, Minn., to record the Dover Quartet on Friday, Sept. 12, Tesfa Wondemagegnehu was bringing two choral colleagues (singers for a new professional choir in town) through the Classical MPR area and routed past my office.

In conversation, it turned out that the fellow, Steven Soph, had been in Philadelphia the previous Saturday (Sept. 6) and attended the concert at Macy's by the Symphony in C orchestra and featuring the Wanamaker Organ, at which I was emcee. It was a curious — but fun — coincidence that he should have heard my comments in Philadelphia and then met "the voice" the next week.

So I drove up to St. Cloud on Friday, recorded an interview with and concert by the Dover Quartet kids (everyone is so young!) and, in conversation with the players afterwards, I discovered that their first violinist had a girlfriend in the Symphony in C, and he, too, attended the concert at Macy's … and sat where I was sitting — in the women's shoes department.

It's rather fun that two young musicians, neither of them organists, happened to attend an organ concert (in Philadelphia, no less) at which I was present.

What are some strange, interesting or fun coincidences you've experienced? Share your stories in the comments below.

The Dover Quartet on Performance Today: