Chorus for a Cause @ Johnson Center of Malone University – Canton 9/18/10
After a bit of a shaky (technological) start, the event settled down, and the nearly-full house was treated to an enjoyable program of music devoted to a single theme – Peace. True to its name, the “cause” to which this concert was dedicated was Juvenile Diabetes and the search to find a cure for this disabling disease.
Mistress of ceremonies, business manager Anita Rayburn introduced a local teenager, Gabriella, who explained how she lives her busy life (school, ballet, etc.) while coping with this currently incurable disease. To reinforce the need for such a cure, a short video followed, with a more direct appeal for research funds.
Christine Allison, founder and artistic director of A Chorus for a Cause, conducted the entire concert, and also provided some program information, while usual accompanist Mark Thewes, performed at the piano for this occasion.
Highlight of the evening was Song of Wisdom from “Old Turtle” by Joseph M. Martin. Watercolors from the book were presented overhead, complementing the narration of Dr. Bob Roden, a local educator, who was not always treated overly well by the sound system in the huge space. Two other soloists fared some better, due to the more exposed nature of their solos within the large work: the didgeridoo (optional spelling: didgeridu, a large wooden sort of recorder-type instrument, from which the soft sound was rather like that of an anemic cow) of James E. Perone and the clarion-like shofar of Linda Simon-Mietus. Concertmaster Bodan Subchak performed his brief solos with sweet eloquence.
The music itself is engaging and illustrative of the various animals it references throughout (except for the butterfly sneezes—although I’m not sure what they should sound like, the mental image of such is highly intriguing.) Nevertheless, the large piece was evocative and expressive, and the almost-new chorus should feel proud of itself for even having attempted such a large and complex work.
The composer was also represented by two other shorter works: the rather bluesy Rhythm of Peace, which featured soloists Bill Stewart, Anna Mambourg and Carolyn Rachita, plus One Voice (from Sing for the Cure) which presented Ruth Oldroyd, Charles Riegler, Judy Clegg, John Ferris, Susie Buckey and Lanny Hisey as soloists. The audience was invited to participate in the latter by standing and waving cell-phones in tribute to cancer victims and survivors.
Two sing-a-longs also encouraged audience participation: If I Had a Hammer, featuring guitarist Joe Clawson and Let There Be Peace on Earth.
The patient chorus remained standing for the entire two-hour concert, and were as enthusiastic at the end as they’d been at the beginning. Bravas and bravos to all concerned.
For information about A Chorus for a Cause (to join, or attend future performances) visit their website: http://AChorusForACause.org. The spring concert will benefit the Domestic Violence Project, Inc.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz, who writes: My most recently published book is Ardenwycke Unveiled (e-book and trade paper). Cerridwen has another contemporary romance from me, But Not For Love, currently available only as an e-book, but perhaps will be in print later this year. I hope to soon get around to completing some of the 30+ incomplete books in my computer!By the way, Cerridwen has also accepted two of my short stories in their Scintillating Samples (complimentary reads) area: Song of the Swan and Unexpected Comfort. I love photography as well, as you can see here. Occasionally I teach writing workshops and sometimes do editing or ghostwriting on a free-lance basis. But over and above everything else, there’s always been the writing. I can’t imagine my life without it.
And now, after more than a few requests, I’ve started a blog about writing. You can find it here.