By Joyell Nevins

Two grand pianos, one colorful character, and a church of music lovers make for performances worthy of the name “Valerie Victor Concert Series.” The series kicks off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 29, at The Table: United Church of Christ of La Mesa (UCCLM).

“[Valerie] was a living doll and a force of nature,” said the church’s Director of Music Jim Tompkins-Maclaine. “I adored this woman.”

Valerie Victor was a member of the parish for almost half a century. She was the one who helped connect Tompkins-Maclaine with UCCLM, after they had worked together in the Pacific Coast Chorale. Tompkins-Maclaine is still the artistic director and conductor for the chorale.

Victor was known for her passion, verve, and ability to take charge. Age didn’t seem to slow her down at all. Even in her 80s, Victor still accompanied on the piano for UCCLM services – right up until she got sick. In October, Tompkins-Maclaine stepped in to temporarily fill her accompanist duties, but by January, she had passed away.

“She told me she was passing on the music responsibility of the church to me,” Tompkins-Maclaine shared.

Around that time, UCCLM gained another grand piano through an unusual set of circumstances. Tompkins-Maclaine saw these two pianos, knew he loved his church and Victor, and realized a way to bring all that together. That’s how the “Valerie Victor Concert Series” was born.

“It’s a good way to honor Valerie,” he said. “This is something she would have loved.”

After 32 years of working in the San Diego music field, and hosting three other concert series, Tompkins-Maclaine is “well-connected” with talented musicians. Three of those musicians will be joining him for the first concert of the series on July 29.

The featured performer is Rodney “Ragin’ Rodney” Girvin. He is the pianist for both the City Ballet of San Diego and the Pacific Coast Chorale.

“There are a handful of world-class piano players in San Diego, and he’s one of them,” Tompkins-Maclaine said, adding, “And he’s the nicest guy on the planet.”

Girvin started learning to play the piano at age 6, and has never stopped since. By the time he reached sixth grade, he was practicing three hours a day. Girvin’s career has included piano teacher, rock band keyboard player, and accompanist at multiple churches and schools in both organ and piano. He helped coordinate the San Diego Pipe Organ Encounter, and serves on the board for the San Diego Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

“Music speaks to me in ways nothing else does,” he explained for the Pacific Beach United Methodist Church news blog. “Communicating music is most challenging and most rewarding. There are infinite ways to make music your own. It is just fun!”

At the end of the concert at UCCLM, Girvin will be joined by Tompkins-Maclaine on the other grand piano, and Nina Gilbert and Richard Thompson on digital piano. They will perform “Dance at the Gym” from “West Side Story” in a composition Tompkins-Maclaine wrote for four pianos. Tompkins-Maclaine put together the music years ago, but this is the first time he’s had the opportunity and resources to hear it come to life.

The concert is in connection with UCCLM’s “Music Sunday,” also held July 29, in which the whole service is music and praise.

The next concert in the Valerie Victor series will be with the Pacific Coast Chorale at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 26. The theme is “Silver Screens” because the set list is all music written directly for film.

All the concerts are free and open to the public, although a freewill offering will be collected.

The Table: United Church of Christ of La Mesa is located at 5940 Kelton Ave. in La Mesa. For more information, call 619-454-1519 or visit tableucc.com.

— Freelance writer Joyell Nevins can be reached at [email protected]. You can also follow her blog Small World, Big God at swbgblog.wordpress.com.