Lori Cologne’s family moved to New York when she was five years old. One day, her mother got a piano at a yard sale and brought it home. Cologne took to it right away and when she heard a song on the radio and was able to play it back perfectly by ear. Her grandmother bought her a Wurlitzer studio piano, which still sits in Cologne’s home today. She had a few lessons, but she preferred to teach herself, which is exactly what she did.
Then came a miracle moment. At age six, Cologne went to the piano at a VIP luncheon in New York and began to play. People were afraid she was going to bang away but instead she brought the house down. A gentleman in the group approached her and offered to give her lessons. That was Leonard Bernstein, the music director of West Side Story.
For the next nine years Bernstein was her music teacher and mentor to what was to become an illustrious career. She became an integral part of his professional work with the New York Philharmonic and stayed within this very unique environment for the remainder of Bernstein’s life.
She was paid for her work as a concert pianist and was able to support her mother and brothers with those earnings. After Bernstein passed, her professional career continued to move forward.
After an unfortunate accident, Cologne said she was inspired to spread her wings, a decision that came through what she considered divine intervention. But where to? She left that up to chance, throwing a dart at a map. It landed on Boulder, Montana.
Cologne has lived in Jefferson County since 2004 teaching young people and adults how to play piano and guitar. She plays and teaches all the string instruments including violin and cello and harp.
She doesn’t advocate students forcing themselves to practice, but insists that they enjoy themselves and have fun with the learning of music.
The first song she teaches children is “Hot Cross Buns,” so they go home the first day actually playing with both hands.
This year Cologne will take her students to the piano competitions in Denver, Colorado where they perform in front of four judges. They also speak to the judges about what their music does for them. Often, she said, they come home with first place trophies.
One of these award-winning students gave her a plaque with a slogan saying, a teacher is “a multi-tasking educational rockstar who lives to inspire and loves to encourage.” This about sums it up for Cologne, who continues to take on students and continues to find joy in each lesson.
Linda Stevens is a freelancer writer in Boulder. For more information on Cologne, or to inquire about lessons, call (406) 204-9393 or email colognelori159@gmail.com.
