87-year-old Calgary woman rediscovers love for drumming
Posted Jan 16, 2023 7:30 pm.
Last Updated Jan 17, 2023 1:03 pm.
An 87-year-old Calgary woman is rediscovering her passion for music after friends, family, and strangers chipped in to buy her a drum set.
Inger Pederson spoke with CityNews in the comfort of her home and says it all started with a night of live music.
On that fateful February night, Pederson and her daughter approached the Chris LeBlanc Band after the show.
“We were playing a show at the Elbow River Casino last year in February, and Inger was out at the show along with her daughter,” said singer-songwriter Chris Leblanc, who has been performing in Calgary since 2003.
“She came up, and she started talking to us and expressed that she used to play drums.”
Inger Pederson sits on her chair in her living room in Calgary on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. (Tate Laycraft, CityNews photo)
At the time, it had been more than 20 years since Pederson last played the drums. Upon learning that, percussionist for the band Gary Pillon presented Inger with a gift.
“Being a drummer myself and being very passionate about it, I felt touched. And I saw an opportunity to maybe share that love and that passion,” Pillon said.
Pederson was overjoyed at the gift, saying that Pillon told her, “‘it’s never too late’ and ‘once a drummer, you’re always a drummer,’ and he gave me these sticks, and I was so overwhelmed.”
It was then that Inger’s daughter realized the potential of helping her mom rediscover her passion.
“Right after that, she had the fire, so we got her a practice pad from Amazon. It wasn’t enough, she was banging on that thing,” Carol Pederson said amid laughs. “I really, really wanted to do that for her.”
“But in an apartment, you can’t have a drum kit, so I thought electronic.”
Inger Pederson plays on her electronic drum set in Calgary on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. (Tate Laycraft, CityNews photo)
Friends, family and strangers chipped in upon hearing Pederson’s story, and just before her 87th birthday, she was surprised with an electronic drum kit.
“For me, it’s a really inspirational thing that has happened,” Pederson said. “And I am so grateful for all those wonderful people at the casino. They are family now.”
As for future plans, Inger is eyeing the opportunity to become Chris LeBlanc’s drummer.
“That night, I can tell you I didn’t sleep very much because I kept on waking up and looking at the drums.”
