New Life into Old Fiddles – CANCELED
This event has been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances for the presenter.
Speaker: Paul Lesley
Thursday, April 23, 3-4 p.m., followed by a 30-minute social time
In-person only: Green Hills Community Room, 2205 Green Hills Dr, Ames, IA
Music has always been a major part of Paul Lasley’s life, so in retirement he started taking fiddle lessons. This led to acquiring old fiddles from flea markets, antique malls, pawn shops, and garage sales, fixing them up. and donating them to the C.Y. Stephens instrument drive. This drive provides all types of musical instruments to grade school and middle school youth across central Iowa. Restoring violins combines Paul’s woodworking skills and his interest in music to help support public school orchestras.
An emeritus professor of sociology and criminal justice, Paul earned a B.S. in animal husbandry and an M.S. and Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Missouri. He came to Iowa State in 1981 as an extension rural sociologist and remained for 40 years, retiring in 2021. He received the Iowa Master Farmer Association’s Exceptional Service Award in 2023.