Concert raises $2,400 for Pakistan flood relief - News

Concert raises $2,400 for Pakistan flood relief - News
(Link to article in the UMD Statesman)

Choir concert with guest Elise Witt from Atlanta, Georgia

The Echoes of Peace Choir Fall concert, featuring guest artist Elise Witt from Georgia, will take place 7:00pm, Sunday, November 14, at Weber Music Hall on the UMD Campus. Admission to the concert is a free-will donation with proceeds to benefit UNICEF's flood relief program in Pakistan.

The producer of the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage calls Elise Witt "a performer to remember with international savvy & personal charm." Elise was born in Switzerland, raised in North Carolina, and since 1977 has made her home in Atlanta. She speaks five languages fluently, sings in over a dozen more, and has been a cultural ambassador to South Africa, Italy, Nicaragua, Switzerland, and China. A songwriter and composer, she tours the United States and the world with her “Global, Local & Homemade Songs.”

For twenty years, Elise sang with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Chamber Chorus under the direction of Robert Shaw, and in recent years, has studied extensively with masters of improvisation Bobby McFerrin, Dr. Ysaye Barnwell, David Darling, and Rhiannon, whose pedagogy she incorporates into her own teaching. Elise uses music as a language to celebrate our cultural diversity while appreciating our connections as one human family.

Choir sings at Duluth's Day of the Dead Celebration

Here's the Duluth News Tribune article about the celebration held at the Depot. 

Choir chapter to begin in Twin Cities

Sara has been directing Echoes of Peace in the Twin Ports of Duluth/Superior (her home base) since March of 2002.  After several requests through the years, she is now beginning a new choir “chapter” in the Twin Cities, starting with a monthly practice session in Minneapolis on the third Thursday of the month, beginning October 21.

Anyone with a desire to sing is welcome to join this non-audition community choir. Our repertoire will include songs from around the world, songs of justice and peace, songs of hope and longing, and songs that are simply fun and full of celebration. No previous singing experience required, you don’t need to know how to read music, and you won’t have to sing all by yourself!

Singing in harmony with others is a means of personal, local and, yes, even global transformation. Singing opens the heart and re-enchants the spirit. It’s good for your brain, good for your body and great for your emotional health. Harmony brings harmony!

The details and how to join:

Time: 7:00-8:45pm

Dates: Thursdays October 21, November 18, December 16 (Third Thursdays of the month)

Cost: $30 for the three sessions. Checks payable to: Echoes of Peace Choir

Location: Richfield United Methodist Church, 5835 Lyndale Ave S., Minneapolis, MN

If interested, send Sara an email (harmonyworks@gmail.com) or just show up the first night (Oct 21). You are welcome to “feel it out” on your first session before making the commitment plunge! 

 

Announcing: Songs Like Seeds

Songs Like Seeds: A new monthly singing opportunity...
October 18, November 22, December 20
Sara is starting a monthly gathering to cultivate the joy of informal community singing. Different than the Echoes of Peace Choir, Sara will not be teaching specific harmony parts or preparing the group for performing. In a casual atmosphere, reminiscent of a camp fire sing-a-long, Sara will lead the singing of familiar and new songs carefully selected for their enriching themes and qualities. Songs sung with intention, like seeds planted with care, can take root in an individual or community and flower into unexpected fruits: simple joy, healing balm, increased sensitivity, awe and wonder, a re-enchanted and revitalized spirit, a grounding and centeredness, a deepening of compassion.

Time: 6:30-8pm, for three Mondays: October 18, November 22, December 20
Cost: $30 for the three sessions
Location: McCabe Renewal Center, 2125 Abbotsford Ave., Duluth
Registration: Space is limited to 30 participants, so pre-registration is encouraged!

To register, send an email to, or call, McCabe Renewal Center.
Email: McCabeCenter@msn.com; Phone: (218) 724-5266

Thank you from Duluth Sister Cities

The choir sang on August 20 for a celebration honoring the 20 year anniversary of Duluth's sister city relationship with Ohara-Isumi City, Japan.  The following was mailed in a hand written note to the choir:

Dear Sara and Echoes of Peace Choir!

Thank you so much for your beautiful, passionate, inspiring songs that were sung for our special celebration with Ohara-Isumi City, Japan. It was a great joy to have you perform. Thank you for sharing your voices -- I think you saw how happy you made our Japanese guests!

You are a gift to our community!

Thank you -
Arigato -

Melissa

Melissa Kadlec, Executive Director

Duluth Sister Cities International

www.duluthmnsistercities.org

September 2010 events

The choir has been invited to sing at two community events this September:

At 4pm on Sunday, September 19 we will open and close a talk & discussion by guest speaker Mary Ann Pevas who has lived and worked in Iran, Pakistan, Egypt, and other parts of the Middle East.  Mary Ann Pevas, O.P., a Dominican Sister, and consultant to Middle Eastern bankers, is currently working to dispel the myths about Islam which cause fear and hatred, and to build bridges of understanding between the United States and the Middle East.  This invitation came from Barb Weller (in the tenor section). View poster.
 
7:30pm, Wednesday, September 29, at Somers Hall, College of St. Scholastica,  in Duluth we will sing at the Duluth-Rania Friendship Exchange Public Reception. This will be an chance to meet Duluth's new friends from Iraqi Kurdistan and to learn more about the Duluth-Rania Friendship Exchange Project, which is building bridges of peace through friendship exchange, sharing culutural, civic and social ideals. Refreshments will be served and the choir will sing. The event is free, but donations welcome to support the project. http://www.duluth-rania.org.
Click here for link to poster.

Our spring 2009 choir concert, "Beauty & Tenacity," helped raise funds for sending a group from Duluth to Rania. Now we have the opportunity to welcome a group from Rania, Iraq in our midst. Come be part of welcoming them in song!

Choir begins fall 2010 season

Choir meets weekly on TUESDAYS, 6:30-8:30pm for the fall season, September 7-November 16. Practice location is the fellowship hall of Pilgrim Congregational Church, 2310 E. 4th St., Duluth. Our Sept 21 practice will be meeting at the Friends Meeting House, 1802 E. 1st Street instead of Pilgrim (due to Matinee Musicale performance).

Our fall concert is 7pm, Sunday, November 14 at Weber Music Hall on the UMD campus. Special guest this year is Elise Witt, singer-composer-recording artist-educator-community activist, from Atlanta, GA. More about Elise and the wonderful things she's up to on her website: www.elisewitt.com.

In conjunction with her visit, Elise will be doing a singing workshop, "Singing for Fun: A Glorious Impromptu Chorus" on Saturday, November 13. Details TBA.