Spring Luncheon, April 29, 2023

JASNA WI members enjoyed lunch and a fortepiano recital at the Blackhawk Country Club in Madison, WI

The Blackhawk Country Club in Madison, on the shores of beautiful Lake Mendota, was the location of the 2023 JASNA Wisconsin Spring Luncheon. Following a lively social hour and time to bid on silent auction items, lunch was served. Attendees dined on chicken breast with provençal beurre blanc sauce, portabella-parmesan ravioli  or quiche Lorraine. The lemon raspberry cake proved a popular refreshing spring dessert.

Liz Philosophos Cooper was presented with a quilt made by JASNA WI Program Chair Brooke Furmanek to honor and thank her for her term as JASNA President. Members of Liz‘s family were there for the honorarium.

Following the lunch, attendees were escorted into the adjacent salon–with panoramic views of the lake–for the featured presentation. Here we were treated to a program called “Jane Austen and the Fortepiano” by Dr. Trevor Stephenson. Dr. Stephenson provided us with an enchanting afternoon of history and live music highlighting the composers Jane would have been familiar with as well as pieces found in the Austen family song books. Dr. Stephenson peppered his historical anecdotes with his own droll humor while performing on his own fortepiano, which was delivered and assembled on site that morning so that it was properly warmed up! A highlight was when Dr. Stephenson disassembled the pianoforte so that we could examine its components. All present agreed that Jane would have approved of the day’s activities.