We are truly honored to be participating in this stirring event!  In attendance will be 150 troops (and their families) who are about to deploy to the Middle East, and another 150 troops who have just returned home to their families.  We are singing for a 9 AM ceremony (about 45 minutes hour long) honoring these brave men and women, with medals and citations being presented to the returning heroes.

One very special presentation which will fill your heart will be made by SDI (Support Dogs, Inc.).  A specially-trained service dog is being presented to a wounded warrior who will now have 24/7 assistance from that special canine companion.  Also attending will be many notable community leaders and veterans groups.

In addition to the presentation ceremony at 9 AM, there will be military vehicles on display (including a helicopter!), and a job and benefits fair from 8:30 AM to about 1PM for the returning troops.  SDI will also have several canine TOUCH teams available for hugs, wags and snuggles.  How can you miss?!

Bring your family!  Tell your friends!  Even the kids will have a blast!  And I absolutely guarantee you’ll go home swelling with pride that you’re an American, and gratitude that you were there to have been a part of it all!  See YOU Saturday!!

What a fantastic way to end our performing season!!

Kathy

Hope you all had a marvelous, blessed Easter last week!  Looking forward to seeing you this evening as we prepare for our June 25th appearance with the Town and Country Orchestra (that’s a Saturday and will be at Town & Country Commons near the intersection of 141 and Clayton Rd.).

We also have another opportunity that I think you will really enjoy participating in.  On Saturday, May 21st, we have been invited to participate prominently in a very special Armed Forces Day observances at St. Peters City Hall.  This is going to be so nifty in soooo many ways!

First of all, there will be about 150 troops (and their families) who are just about to deploy to Afghanistan.  There will also be a large number of veterans (and families) who have just returned from deployment in the Middle East.  A number of citations and awards will be presented at this gathering, plus there will be the presentation of a service animal to a wounded warrior, presented by (SDI) Service Dogs, Inc.  There will be a job fair for returning veterans, and there will be a number of the military vehicles available to be seen “up close and personal” if you so choose.  This wll be a very inspiring and touching occasion and I assure you that you will be proud to have been part of it.

We are slated to sing the National Anthem, the Military Service Songs and God Bless America for the official proceedings.  It should be a terrific way for us to give back in a most meaningful way for those who protect us and our way of life.  The specific details are still filling in, however, we will be singing around 10:30 or 11 AM, and only the morning hours will be afected.

Thanks everyone!

Kathy

Peter Martin playing at the STLWC fundraiser

WOW!!  What a fabulous evening we had at the Shaws’ home on the 22nd!!  Peter Martin was absolutely superb!  What a marvelous, generous gesture to support the STL Women’s Chorale with his exquisite playing!!  Every person in attendance was enchanted…there was almost a Segovian hush when he played.  THANK YOU, PETER!! Click here to watch a snippet of the event.

There was also a brief little “taste” of SLWC’s upcoming “Wearin’ o’ the Green” Irish/Celtic concert (Tuesday March 15th, 7:30 PM at the Sheldon). Click here to watch the preview.

The delicious hors d’oeuvres – prepared by many members of the Chorale and so elegantly presented by Leslie Caplan and Jeanine Hayer – weremarvelously decadent!  Everyone in attendance agreed that THIS was an evening that will be long-remembered.  Thank you and kudos to everyone – from planners to helping hands to guests to our most admired and appreciated guest artist, Peter Martin!

If you were unable to make this one, we do hope that you will plan on being part of our next “Fun, friend and fund-raising bash!”  Stay tuned, we’ll keep you posted on just when and where that will be!  Meanwhile, See you at the Sheldon on March 15th.!

Kathy

JPW and friends

Well, if you were unable to attend last night’s BIRTHDAY BASH for John Powel Walsh, I gotta’ tell ya’ — you missed it!  What a TOTAL BLAST!!   For those of you who were there, THANK YOU for such a delightful, fun, unforgettable evening!  And thank you for your contribution to the Chorale!

Good heavens, John has fantastic friends~~WOW!  And I think almost every one of them was there last night!  I’d be nuts to even TRY to name names!  I’ll just put it this way — the creme-de-la-creme was there!  A walk through the crowd “eavesdropping” would have revealed the most animated, interesting, eclectic mix of topics one could imagine!  Laughter abounded.  Tom Kavanaugh did catch a few folks in mid-schmooze…some of these will undoubtedly find their way to the website!  (Uh-oh!  Better check it out!)

I’m not really sure exactly how many guests attended – some folks dropped in for a little while, others of us (including yours truly) stayed the entire evening!  The refreshments – so delicious and beautifully presented, discreetly distributed all around the Shaws’ home – were the wondrous handiwork of Leslie Caplan and Jeanine Hayes.  Special kudos to the two of them.  And, while I’m at it, a HUGE thank you to Mary Ann and Dick Shaw for so graciously opening their gorgeous home for this gathering.  Truthfully, now…when was the last time you went to a truly elegant affair that was also a complete BALL?!?!

But the biggest thank you goes to the Birthday Honoree himself, John Powel Walsh.  It was John’s fabulous idea to make his birthday party an opportunity to support the SLWC.  Thank you, John!   With such a generous spirit, it’s no wonder John has so many magnificent friends!  (Not to mention his totally awesome spouse, Paula!)

Happy Birthday, John, and many, many more!  And thanks all ’round to everyone who contributed to make last night an absolutely unforgettable evening!

Kathy

Click here to see the pics on Facebook.

Welcome to the new blog of the St. Louis Women’s Chorale. I’m the Chorale’s (fairly) new Artistic Director, Kathy Brown. And besides the blog, the new year, and me there are lots of other new things about the Chorale. Some of those new things will be the subjects of future posts.

But the subject of this, the first post of “Notes and Grace Notes,” is the announcement of an exciting new Spring season with three great concerts in as many months.

Our first concert this spring will be at the Sheldon Concert Hall on March 15th (two days before St. Patrick’s Day).  Our concert is entitled “Wearin’ o’ the Green” an Irish/Celtic Concert.

The next will be at the St. Louis Abbey, and is entitled “Passiontide.” It will feature Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater and several other sacred works.

The final concert will be scheduled Maryville for sometime in May, “An American Cabaret.” This will include a number of patriotic songs and “flag wavers” (which we can also utilize at veterans & community functions), and some great old Broadway favorites, too!  (An opportunity to really be hams!  Hah!)

I think that’s about it, other than to say that I wish you a marvelous New Year, and look forward to our upcoming Spring season together!  HAPPY 2011!

Kathy