Karolyn “Zuzu” Grimes Honored At Good News

Actress Karolyn Grimes, who portrayed Zuzu in the Jimmy Stewart movie It’s A Wonderful Life, and Yamaha Specialist Phillip Keveren

During the planning stages, Erklen recalls, “I had to find an outstanding composer that could capture the essence of Zuzu, while making the piece technically accessible for most piano students.” He selected Yamaha artist Phillip Keveren, who performed his solo piano composition, “Zuzu: Angels, Bells & Petals,” on a Yamaha Clavinova CVP109 digital piano at the Colorado Springs event. He also demonstrated the General MIDI orchestrations recorded on his new IMS disk of the same title. “I was trying to capture the innocence and hope that this movie brings to our lives,” says Keveren. “Zuzu had to have a theme that was at once sweet and poignant.” Keveren engineered the disk using harp, strings, glockenspiel, pizzicato strings, and celeste, adding a beautiful accompaniment to his piano solo.

“As I heard the melody of the music begin with the tinkle of tiny bells, I just melted,” Grimes admits. “I will keep it in my heart always.” Artist Claire Kitcher created an original watercolor, also presented to Grimes, for the sheet music’s cover.

Front row: Allison McIntire, Whitney Hayes, Jacob and Jeno Saghi. Back row: Phillip Keveren and Karolyn Grimes

Grimes—who acted in 15 other films, including The Bishop’s Wife with Loretta Young, Cary Grant, and David Niven—says, “This tribute was perhaps the greatest gift I have ever been given.” She offered words of encouragement and wisdom to music students everywhere. “There is no other form of communication that is more universal than music,” she states. “It is a wonderful gift that we have been given to enrich our lives. Practicing can be a challenge, but I encourage you to have patience. With your talent, you can make it a wonderful life.” A portion of proceeds from the event was contributed to the Children’s Literacy Center in Colorado Springs.