Britt is a Family Affair for the Shockeys

Posted Jan 06, 2011 at 09:43 PM in General, Pictures, Volunteers

Volunteer Profile

From left: Christopher Shockey, Kirsten Shockey, Jakob Shockey, Lydia Trottman, Ariana Shockey, Dmitri Shockey, Kelton Shockey

In 2006, Christopher Shockey became the Britt nighttime groundskeeper after departing a corporate job. He "needed to recharge what was left of his soul." He fell in love with Britt and signed up to volunteer in 2007, bringing two of his three sons—Kelton, and Jakob—with him. His third son Dmitri joined the family on the Hill in 2010. You'll recognize Christopher by his height and two of his sons by their curly hair, inherited from their mom. The Shockeys moved to an Applegate Valley farm in 1998, where they grow much of their own food. Christopher laughs that Britt and a few meals now and then are the only time the Shockey family was together all summer!

Christopher, who serves on the Clean-up and Events crews, looks forward to returning every year. "It's like a long family reunion. We all start out a little older, a little heavier, and huffing and puffing by the time we reach the top of the hill. By September, we look younger, slimmer and are up and down without a thought."

He's busy with other volunteer activities throughout the year, including writing for the As It Was series of the Oregon Historical Society and representing the Applegate branch in the Friends of the Library program. Career-wise, Christopher is a technology consultant to universities.

The Shockeys love soaking up the Britt Experience as a family. Christopher says, "My kids have no idea what a gift it is to experience so much world-class music every summer. I'm from a small farming town in Missouri. The only outdoor concerts that I was exposed to were church choirs and the high school marching band during half-time at the Friday night football games."

Kelton followed in his father's footsteps as Britt's night groundskeeper in 2010. He started volunteering at age 14, three years ago. The Chieftains concert ranks high on the 17- year-old's list of Britt experiences: "I became a Britt Fest volunteer because volunteering allowed me to attend and help out at many more concerts than I could go to otherwise," he says.

This is Dmitri Shockey's first year as a Britt volunteer. He's undecided yet about whether Clean-Up or Usher is his favorite Britt gig. The Michael Franti concert made a big impression on the youngest Shockey son: "I enjoyed the energy and passion he brought to the crowd through his music."

Son Jakob works Clean-up and Events. Clean-up is a favorite: "I have found those who choose this job to be a friendly community of volunteers whom enjoy what they're doing. The Evergreen State College student describes two of his most memorable concerts: " I have absolutely loved so many concerts. As a bit of a rusty fiddler, I enjoy watching those more practiced than I. A few years ago the group "Leahy" came to Britt. For me, these seven fiddling siblings were hard to top. However, my favorite evening at Britt was not about music. Two years ago I volunteered as a sub to cleanup for the Michelle Shocked concert. That night I ran into a girl I had deeply fallen in love with some two years before, yet hadn't seen since that time. I remember getting in trouble that night for being distracted from my cleanup assignment... by Lydia. Two years later, she, too, volunteers at Britt. And, as any of the recent Events Staff will probably tell you, I continue to have difficulties with my volunteer duties when we're together!"

The ultimate Britt experience for Christopher and his wife was Nancy Griffith's concert: "We were on the front lawn that night, just a few feet from the stage and when she began to sing ‘Gulf Coast Highway' she looked down at us and it felt for all the world she was singing to us at that moment. That's the magic of Britt isn't it, that you can have such an intimate experience on both sides of the stage?"

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