Hagen, Isabelle (Isabelle Nadeau) 1911-2007

The 20th century music and theater scene in the Copper Country of Michigan was dominated by Isabelle Nadeau Hagen. Born in 1911 in Calumet, Michigan, Isabelle attended Eastern Michigan University, Case Western Reserve and the University of Michigan where she earned a masters in piano pedagogy in 1970. She began playing for church services at the age of 12. Over the years she served in a number of churches, Methodist, Episcopal and Presbyterian. For years her piano students numbered in the 30s and many became skilled keyboard musicians. She was adamant that people share their talents in performance. She organized trios, quartets, quintets and performed in recitals and concerts over the span of almost a century. Her theater skills were legendary. During the late 1950s and early 1960s she was a moving force behind the professional actors' troupe, the Keweenaw Playhouse. Over the years she acted in everything from "A Night in a Turkish Bath" to Katisha in the "Mikado" and the lead role in "The Madwoman of Chaillot." She took her Steinway spinet with her after her retirement and move to assisted living, and continued to play alone and with a partner in duets. Always a teacher/student/critic, she was intimidating to some, but she was a stalwart friend, interested in what people were doing in both musical and non-musical events, incredibly talented and always gave freely of her talents, knowledge and humor. Isabelle Hagen passed away in 2007.