Harp Column Blogs: Laura ByrneArchive

On January 9, 2009, I performed at the Inaugural Ball of North Carolina's first woman Governor Bev Perdue. She was sworn into office the next day by Sarah Parker, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. She shared the stage with Senator Kay Hagan, and 5 female members of the Council of State and several other high profile female leaders. This was a big deal in North Carolina, and it was played up in the media to underline the increasing power of women in leadership positions in our state.

It was a tremendous honor to be asked to perform at such an historic event and my flutist duo partner Mary Boone and I were both thrilled and delighted. We dressed in our finest attire and played for the opening reception. There were several other fine musicians from around the state who performed later in the evening including the famous jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis.

In her opening remarks at the reception the Governor thanked her many supporters, friends, and especially her family. She spoke of "change" and the importance of "women in leadership". I couldn't help but think of my mother and my own daughters. I also thought about the special women friends who have inspired and supported me in my life. These special friends taught me that successful women could be strong and beautiful, tough and compassionate, wise and fun, confident and grateful.

I looked at Mary, my flutist friend of 25 years, and smiled remembering our college days and our first gig together. We had so much fun playing together, we became great friends. We were so poor, but we were so inspired and filled with dreams of a life in music. If we only knew then, what we know now...oh the wisdom of experience!

After our performance we toasted each other over a glass of champagne, savoring the moment of this special evening. We were invited to attend the festivities after our performance, so we joined the party and mixed and mingled with an extraordinary group of people. The media said there were 5000 people in attendance and we marvelled at the beautifully dressed crowd. I saw many of the highest profile political and business leaders in the state, as well as several people I knew personally who were leaders in the Arts and Academic communities.

For all the performances in my career, I have to say this was one of the most extraordinary. What a spectacular event and a proud time in history, especially for women in North Carolina. I must admit, we had a ball at the "Inaugural Ball". Afterwards, I went home and was greeted by my gleeful daughters who were thrilled to have seen me on the television evening news. "Mommy, did you meet the Lady Governor", "did you play well", and most importantly, "did you get to eat and was the food good?" I laughed and shared the entire experience with them from the enormous security and the bomb-sniffing dog, to our private dressing room with guards, to the music, the food, the clothes, and the people. When I "tucked them in" that night, I looked into their shining adolescent faces and said: "Girls, don't ever let anything or anyone keep you from reaching for your dreams."
As Martina McBride sings so beautifully, "This One's For The Girls"!