Discover - MUSE | Cincinnati`s Women`s Choir

Visit in May!
See Diana’s
newest commission
piece before delivery
to its new home in
Connecticut.
Discover
the artwork of
Diana Martens
Exhibited at Upper Eden
1120 St. Gregory St. (next to the UDF) Cinti, OH 45202
www.UpperEden.com • 513.421.1120
Questions or commissions: [email protected]
Philosophy
MUSE is a women’s choir dedicated to musical excellence and social change. In keeping
with our belief that diversity is strength, we are feminist women of varied ages, races,
and ethnicities with a range of musical abilities, political interests, and life experiences.
We are women loving women; we are heterosexual, lesbian and bisexual women united
in song. We commission and seek out music composed by women, pieces written to
enhance the sound of women’s voices, and songs that honor the enduring spirit of all
peoples. In performing, we strive for a concert experience that entertains, inspires,
motivates, heals, and creates a feeling of community with our audience.
Affiliations
MUSE is a member organization of GALA Choruses, Inc., Sister Singers Network, Greater
Cincinnati Choral Consortium, and Chorus America
Contact Us
MUSE, Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir, P.O. Box 23292, Cincinnati, OH 45223
(513) 221-1118 • www.musechoir.org • [email protected]
Social Media
Fb.me/musechoir
instagram.com/musechoir
@CinciMuseChoir
linkedin.com/in/musechoir
Advertise
www.musechoir.org/support/advertise
Donate
www.musechoir.org/support/donate
MUSE gratefully acknowledges support from
WILLIAM H. ALBERS FOUNDATION
Letter from the Artistic Director
Today we celebrate women through women composers who have made us aware of
life-changing issues and experiences. For the 32 years that MUSE, Cincinnati’s Women’s
Choir has sung for social change, we have seen much change. Yet, it seems change
comes too slowly as history repeats itself. Today’s issues seem bigger and more blatantly
unjust than ever before.
Indeed, attaining social justice and equality in this world seems a never-ending
undertaking at times; however, the one thing we can do to persevere is to be aware and
present. Change comes from education and awareness, and hopefully, what we share
tonight will spill over into and among our family, friends, and communities.
Specifically tonight, we share Amelia Earhart’s words paired with Rachel DeVore
Fogarty’s music that will take us above the stars in a flight more beautiful than words
can describe. Jennifer Stasack unites us with women universally by letting us hold their
hands and experience a small part of their world through descriptive words and tone
painting. Dianne Reeves makes known that women are endangered, imploring us to be
strong and speak up for our rights! Elizabeth Alexander brings to the forefront that we
still have forms of slavery happening in our world today. Melissa Etheridge writes that
“we need to wake up” and be aware of our environmental world so that we will have a
world for tomorrow, and Alicia Keys has started an international movement with her
song “We Are Here.”
Indeed we are here—Here and Aware! We are glad that you have chosen to take this
journey with us.
Always moving forward,
Rhonda Juliano
Artistic Director
513.421. 7768
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Concert Program
Endangered Species
Jeanne Pisano and Dianne Reeves
Arr. Steve Milloy
Soloists: Bennyce Hamilton, Dawn Robrooks, Sharisse Saunders,
Lois Shegog and Whitney Szabo
Let Us Now Hold Hands Jennifer E. Stasack
Lyrics: Pat Mora
Speaker: Paula Fletcher
Mountain Song/Kentucky Woman Holly Near
Arr. J. David Moore
Now I Become Myself Gwyneth Walker
Lyrics: May Sarton
I Need To Wake Up Melissa Etheridge
Arr. J. David Moore
(From “An Inconvenient Truth”)
Reasons for the Perpetuation of Slavery Elizabeth Alexander
Part I: The Sheer Possibility in the First Place
Part II: The Existance of Endless Prepositional Possibilities
Part III: An Unexamined Life
INTERMISSION
Past Life Melodies Sarah Hopkins
Flying Rachel DeVore Fogarty
Mother’s Prayer Something Special On Children Connie Kaldor
Arr. Willi Zwozdesky
Soloist: Heather Wiggins Augustine
Whitney B. Szabo
Ysaye Barnwell
Guest Conductor: Bryce Taylor
We Are Here Audience Sing-A-Long Alicia Augello-Cook, Mart Bartson, Kasseem Harold Dean
Arr. Steve Milloy
I Feel The Earth Move Carole King
Arr. David Maddux
Special thank you to our instrumentalists: Liz Wu, Percussion; June Levis, Drum Set;
Heidi Yenney, Violin; Chelsea Cox, Oboe; Elizabeth Rice, Cello; Mark Szabo, Guitar
NIELSEN IS PROUD TO SUPPORT
MUSE AS THEY REACH OUT TO
DRIVE CHANGE IN THE
COMMUNITY. AT NIELSEN,
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION IS NOT
JUST A GOAL, IT IS A GLOBAL
BUSINESS IMPERATIVE.
40th National Women’s Music Festival
Women’s Music from A-Z
July 2-5, 2015
In honor of the 40th Anniversary there will be Special Stages & Events
including Retrospective Panels on the Herstory of the Women’s Music
Industry (AWMAC) with Tributes, Slide-Shows, Movies and More!
Marriott Madison West Conference Center
WIAonline.org
1313 John Q. Hammons Dr. w Middleton Wl
BrownPaperTickets.com
Concert Notes
Endangered Species
Immersed in music since childhood, Dianne
Reeves is a descendant of the great jazz
divas like Sarah Vaughan, and describes
herself as a chameleon—equally versatile
in folk traditions, pop, blues, Latin, and
gospel. A 2001 Grammy winning vocalist,
Reeves creates music that entertains and
challenges, such as “Endangered Species”
(written in 1993) that challenges the notion
of women as victims in the world. Twentytwo years later, Reeves’ powerful chant
continues to inspire.
Let Us Now Hold Hands
A MUSE commission, Jennifer Stasack’s
setting of Pat Mora’s poem uses intricate
and complex music to suggest the
rhythms of women’s lives. From the
villages to Detroit, from the fields to the
factories: we are all women who have an
indescribable and deep bond that stems
out of compassion for one another. We are
women joining hands.
Mountain Song/Kentucky
Woman
Singer/songwriter/activist Holly Near was
inspired by a newspaper article about an
old woman in the Appalachian Mountains
who tried to prevent strip mining from
destroying her land. When all else failed,
the woman stood in front of the bulldozer
and said, “If you’re going to take my
mountain, you’re going to have to take me
first.” “They had to lift this woman up and
carry her off the mountain,” Holly Near
told an interviewer, “It was watching that
kind of courage that inspired me to write
“Mountain Song” and “Kentucky Woman.”
Now I Become Myself
Gwyneth Walker’s setting of writer May
Sarton’s poem of the same title, “aims
to capture the process of growing into a
complete person.” The music is powerful
and depicts strength, questioning,
reflection, weightiness, searching, and then
returns assuredness. The song beautifully
circles around and addresses the issue of
a life long journey to become oneself.
I Need to Wake Up
Singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge
supported Al Gore’s efforts to foster
environmental awareness around the
world, especially here in America, by
writing this for the 2006 documentary An
Inconvenient Truth. In accepting the Oscar
for the best song—the only song from a
documentary to win—Etheridge thanked
Gore for “showing that caring about the
Earth is not Republican or Democrat, it’s
not blue or red, it’s all green.”
Reasons For the Perpetuation
of Slavery
Elizabeth Alexander’s meditation on
human complicity in “the price of keeping
the prices low” is a stark reminder that
our unaware choices have unintended
and often painful consequences. This is a
complex piece that brings injustices of our
current world to the forefront. It asks hard
questions and challenges us to rethink
modern day slavery.
Past Life Melodies was composed
in 1991 by Sarah Hopkins, an Australian
composer and cellist whose compositions
are grounded in the Australian landscapes.
The first melody heard, sung in unison,
was one that haunted Hopkins for many
years—a melody which came to her at
moments of deep emotion. The second
melody is based on Hopkins’ deep interest
in Australian Aboriginal music and art. The
third section utilizes harmonic overtone
singing above the drone of the choir. This is
a powerful, wordless piece, that if allowed
will speak deeply to heart and soul.
Flying
Rachel DeVore Fogarty, a critically
acclaimed and award-winning composer
from Nashville, based the text for “Flying”
on Amelia Earhart’s writings on “the lure
of flying.” Earhart’s simple and compelling
words telling of flying alone after midnight
and seeing the stars and Fogarty’s use of
violin, cello, and oboe accompaniment
to support the vocal lines with rhythms
as if created by propellers convey the
mysterious beauty of flying.
Mother’s Prayer
Connie Kaldor’s eloquent prayer for a
world of peace encompasses the Canadian
singer/songwriter’s love for children and the
natural world, especially her native prairies.
Something Special
This song was born of a feeling of deep
gratitude. I am so thankful that I have
this diverse, loving, bold and outspoken
musical community of women to raise
my son within. MUSE is a gift to me as a
mother, and I hope when my son grows
into a man that it proves to have been a
gift to him.
Lyrics: We have grown/On Mondays our
moms go to MUSE, and we’re so glad they
do/They’ve got something to say, ok?/We
have grown./Some of us have never known
anything different, it’s who she’s always been./
She’s always had something to show us–this./
This is something special./We have grown.
We Are Here (Audience sing-along)
On September 8, 2014, Alicia Keys posted
this song on her Facebook page saying,
“No matter where we come from, when
we see the state of the world today, we
can all feel the growing frustration and
desire to make a difference. And we all
have a voice—we just need to know how
to make it heard.” The song has had over
2 million views on YouTube. Additionally,
Keys created the We Are Here Movement
(www.weareheremovement.com) that
connects visitors with organizations working
to improve the lives of children throughout
the world (one of which is Girl Rising,
which produced the film we showed parts
of for our concert in March 2014).
Lyrics:
We Are Here.
We are here for all of us,
we are here for all of us.
That’s why we are here;
why we are here. (repeat)
I Feel the Earth Move
Carole King made it big in 1971 with her
legendary album “Tapestry.” She started
her career with her husband Gerry Goffin
and then branched out on her own, King
has written for everyone from The Shirelles
to Aretha Franklin to James Taylor, and
has a Tony-award winning musical on
Broadway. Both King and Goffin were
inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame in 1990.
Academic
Excellence
with
Montessori
Heart
Artistic Staff
Rhonda Juliano, Artistic Director
Ruth Rowan, Interpreter
Lois Shegog, Assistant Director
Stephen Variames, Accompanist
Administrative Staff
Amy Arnold, Membership Coordinator
Catherine Clay, Social Media Manager
Kristina Johnson, Social Change Coordinator
Mary Manera, Archivist
Kathy Nolan, Advertising Sales Rep
Maggie Panyko, Web Coordinator
Jill Silvers, Social Media Manager
Melissa Stephens, Managing Director
Jonah Yokoyama, 5th Section Coordinator
Board of Directors
Officers
Mary Chaiken, President
Mollie Jimmar, Secretary
Janet Neidhard, Treasurer
Directors
Amy Arnold
Rhonda Juliano,
Ex-Officio
Dana LaCoste
Mary Manera
Diana Martens
Sarah Meisch
Kate Roberton
Melissa Stephens,
Ex-Officio
Ramona Toussaint
Heather Wiggins
Biographies
Rhonda Juliano, Artistic Director
Artistic Director, Rhonda Juliano is a Northwest native and comes
from Seattle, Washington, where she resided for 22 years. She
received her Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the
University of Arizona, Tucson, her Bachelor of Music in Education
from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, and her School
Administration credentials at City University in Bellevue. Rhonda
is a member of Chorus America (CA), American Choral Directors
Association (ACDA) and Music Educators Association (MENC).
She has worked in school leadership positions and has taught in
the public education arena for over 25 years. She is active as a choral adjudicator and
presenter of sacred music at regional conferences.
Most recently, Rhonda served as Assistant Director of the Seattle Women’s Chorus since
its founding in 2002 until 2012. During her time with the Seattle Women’s Chorus, she
founded Sensible Shoes, a nine-voice outreach ensemble. Rhonda is also the founder
of Diverse Harmony, the nation’s first gay/straight alliance youth chorus. In addition
to her duties as MUSE’s Artistic Director, Rhonda is Director of Music Ministries at Mt.
Washington Presbyterian Church.
Lois Shegog, Assistant Director
Lois Shegog, Assistant Director of MUSE since 1995, taught music
in the Cincinnati Public Schools until her recent retirement. She
received her Bachelor of Music Education at Miami University
(Ohio) and continued her studies in vocal performance and
counseling at The Ohio State University. Lois sings and helps
direct the Martin Luther King Coalition Chorale, and works as a
choir clinician teaching singing in the African-American tradition.
Ruth Rowan, Interpreter
Ruth Rowan, Interpreter, has been delivering the music of MUSE
to the hearing impaired at MUSE concerts since 1985. She has a
Bachelor’s degree in Speech Language Pathology and a Master’s
degree in deaf education from the University of Cincinnati.
In June of 2006, Ruth retired from teaching Deaf students in
Cincinnati Public Schools. She is now busy freelance interpreting
as well as interpreting for women’s music festivals and events.
She interprets for the Martin Luther King Chorale, occasionally for
the World House Choir as well as for her first love, MUSE. Ruth
is also an active board member for Women in the Arts, the producers of the National
Women’s Music Festival. She will always be an Alto I at heart and continues to be
honored to be able to be a part of this inspiring organization.
Melissa Stephens, Managing Director
Managing Director Melissa Stephens holds degrees in Philosophy
from Georgetown College and in Theology from Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary. She has served in several positions in
churches including women’s, youth and children’s ministry. Most
recently she was the Executive Director of Shoulder To Shoulder,
Inc., a poverty relief ministry providing food, clothing, furniture
and diapers in Northern Kentucky’s urban core.
Stephen Variames, Resident Accompanist
Stephen Variames, Resident Accompanist, is a graduate of the
University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music with an
Artist Diploma in Opera Coaching, studying under Marie-France
Lefebvre. His other academic institutions include Oklahoma
City University (M.M. in Vocal Coaching, studying with Brian
Osborne) and Baylor University (B.M. in Composition, studying
with Scott McAllister). He has been a pianist with summer opera
programs like Opera in the Ozarks, Cincinnati Opera and Opera
Breve. Over the past year, he has continued to pursue his love of
composition, and he is currently working on his second opera.
Room for different beliefs. Yours.
Join us in working for justice,
celebrating diversity of faith,
and welcoming freedom of thought.
At St. John’s Unitarian Universalist Church, we join all
Unitarian Universalists with commitment to religious
freedom, peace and justice, family diversity, the individual
search for truth and meaning and
caring for all members
of the web of life.
320 Resor Ave.
Clifton Gaslight
513.961.1938
stjohnsuu.org
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH
Membership
Soprano I
Soprano II
Alto I
Alto II
Andrea Dale*
Amy Arnold
Julie Brock
Anne Arenstein
Rachel Gaspar’raj
Samara Carpenter
Mary Chaiken~
Kathy Beck
Naomi Goertz~
Catherine Clay
Mary Cyphers
Mary Bucklin^
Jennifer Hester*
Kelly Cobb*
Kate Dennis*
Burgess Byrd*
June Huelskamp
Angie Denov
Susan Devlin
Emily Dotter
Marie Elyse
Krulewitch-Browne
Rachel Deshpande
Julie MaslovGoodman
Paula Fletcher
Greta Gibson+
Sarah Luken-Heilman
Trish Hart
Brenda Huffines*
Benny Hamilton^
Jennifer Milau
Judy Herbold+
Mollie Jimmar*
Kristin Henderson*
Marti Mohar^
Maria Kitsinis
Kristina Johnson
Chloe Hockley
Mary Kay Rehard
Martha Leffler
Audra Koncal
Mari Kass*
Dawn Robrooks
Sarah Meisch
Robin Madden*
Katie Litmer*
Sharisse Sounders
Charmaine Moore~
Mary Manera
Sophia Schooley
Leisan Smith*
Janet Neidhard
Rhonda Marcotte
Lois Shegog
Denise Taylor
Sally Neidhard
Katy Moffat
Sandy Stehlin
Christy Whitten*
Ellen Newman^
Diana Porter
Brandy Turnbow
Heather WigginsAugustine
Gillian Oakenfull
Betty Richardson
Rhonda Whitten ~
Maggie Panyko
Gloria Stewart+
Kate Roberton
Whitney Szabo^
Jill Silvers
Allyson Thompson*
April Theriot
Jamie Fota
* On Leave
+Emeritas
~ Music Section Leader
^ Membership Section
Leader
5th Section
Kate Anthony
William Bastien
Bill Bullock
Brenda Huffines
Tara Kinsella
Dana LaCoste
Diana Martens
Jackie Millay
Carol Morgan
Kathy Nolan
Janet Phillips
Jamie Thompson
Ramona Toussaint
Scott Whitehurst
John Wilson
Jonah Yokoyama
Laurie Yokoyama
BECOME A 32ND SEASON FRIEND of MUSE!
Your support is like a standing ovation!
MUSE earns income from concert ticket sales, program book advertising, fundraisers,
performance fees, and MUSE Marketplace merchandise sales (staffed by fabulous
volunteer 5th Section MUSE Members). Our members contribute annual dues to offset
our membership activity expenses, though we always provide scholarship assistance to
singers with financial barriers. MUSE also receives considerable financial support from
ArtsWave, Community Shares, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, and
the William H. Albers Foundation.
FRIENDS of MUSE make it possible for us to sing at local events and demonstrations–
often for little or no performance fee. We can support the artistic work of talented
composers and musicians, offer free concert tickets to members of our community in
need, provide childcare support for parents at rehearsals, and continue our focus on
both musical excellence and social change. Your gifts do so much more than just “keep
the lights on.” Visit www.musechoir.org/support today!
Friends of MUSE
This list reflects gifts given from March 1, 2014 – February 28,
2015. Every effort has been made to ensure that it is accurate.
♪ denotes MUSE Member or Emerita
_ denotes
MUSE Board of Directors
♥ denotes MUSE Alumnae (CLIO)
denotes gift given all or in part through Community Shares
❉
^denotes gift given all or in part to the MUSE Endowment Fund
Venus ($1,500+)
The William H. Albers Foundation
American Center for Philanthropy
ArtsWave
Community Shares
Trish Hart ♪
Ohio Arts Council
The Pepper Family
Megan Richards & Paula Fletcher ♪
Sappho ($1,000+)
Bennyce Hamilton ♪❉
Mary ♪_❉ & Frank Chaiken
(In honor of Rosalind Chaiken & Margaret Fedor)
Amy Foust
Julia Hawgood & Harry Kangis
Catherine Roma ♪ & Dorothy Smith ♪
(In memory of our mothers, Elisa Felici Roma &
Nell Emogene Wriston Smith)
Brett Stover
Polyhymnia ($500+)
Rosanne Ammirati & Kevin Krulewitch
Jean Ashcroft & Jimmy Edwards
Cincinnati Queen Bee Marathon
Angie Denov ♪ & Jon Blickenstaff ❉
The Dennis Family ♪
Bedouin & Randall Dennison
(In memory of Ruth & Joe)
dunnhumby USA
Rachel ♪ and Edwin Gaspar’raj
Sarah Luken-Heilman ♪
Mary Manera ♪_❉
Kimberly & Vincent Mauer
Sarah Meisch ♪_ & Brian Desoto
Diana Porter ♪ & Leonard Webb ❉
Fran & Craig Roberton
(In honor of Kate Roberton and her
love of music and social advocacy)
Kate Roberton ♪_❉
Howard & Nina Tolley
Brenda Wolfersberger♥ & Brandt Smith
Thalia ($250+)
Luke Brockmeier & Haley Elkins♥
Greta Gibson ♪
Christine Haskins♥
Mollie Jimmar ♪_^
Rhonda Juliano ♪_❉
Scott Knox
Kroger Community Rewards
H.R. & M.C. Mayer
Phillip Nuxhall
Fran & Craig Roberton
(In honor of Kate Roberton’s love of music
and social advocacy)
Ten Thousand Villages
Danita Ware♥
Heather Wiggins ♪_ & James Augustine❉
Euterpe ($100+)
Anne Arenstein ♪
Maggi Atterbury & Bruce Bernard
Kathy Beck ♪
Janet & Bill Berger
Susan Blouch
BrewHouse
Fritz & Ginny♥ Casey-Leininger
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Chase
(In honor of Kate Roberton)
Dorothy Christenson
Jeremy Cooper
Mary Dryden♥
Holly Ferguson♥
Lori Finke♥
(In honor of Karen Robinson & Jen Conley)
Fletcher Realty
Ginger Gandy & Pamela Jacobson
(In honor of Chris Gutjahr)
Susan Jarvis Goldstein
(In honor of Kate Roberton)
Sarah Haberman
(In honor of Kate Roberton)
Kristin Henderson ♪
Emily Hodges
Bill Houston & Hazel Tulecke
June Huelskamp ♪
Brenda Huffines ♪❉
Robin Huizenga
(In honor of Rhonda Juliano)
Jill Huppert♥
(In honor of Julie Brock)
Julie Jencks♥
Joann Jones & Beverly Brubaker
(In memory of Janice Van Voorhis)
Joseph Beth Booksellers
Edrea Juliano
Kim Kimber
(In memory of Therese Edell)
Andrea & John Kornbluh
Jerome Kramer
Dana LaCoste_
Duane Lewis❉
Daveen Litwin♥
Joy Lohrer and Marge Hill
Paula Maionchi
(In honor of Paula Fletcher)
Pat Mascaritolo
(In honor of Louise Gomer Bangel)
Rob & Marion Mayer
(In honor of Cathy Roma)
Marti Mohar ♪
Charmaine Moore ♪
Patricia Neal-Miller❉
Janet Neidhard ♪_
Kathy Nogle
Marguerite Panyko ♪❉
Karin & Frank Pendle
Susan Pepper♥
Mary Ann Pitman♥
Jan Rubens♥
(In memory of Shirley Allen)
Dee Dee Scott
(In memory & in honor of the women who led the way)
Jack Sherman, Jr.
Leisan Smith ♪
Kathleen Spencer
Tim Walsh
Erato ($50+)
Anonymous
Bonnie Acker
Muriel Blaisdell & Cynthia Kelley
(In memory of Janice Van Voorhis)
Jacob Blickenov
(In honor of Angie Denov)
Joe Blickenov
(In honor of Angie Denov)
Louise Blickenstaff
(In honor of Angie Denov & Rachel Deshpande)
Julie Brock ♪ & Kevin Necessary❉
Pamela Brubaker
(In honor of Diana Porter and the other founding
mothers of MUSE)
Mary Bucklin ♪
Charles Casey-Leininger
Mitchell & Morissa Cohen
(In honor of Anne Arenstein)
Gwenna Corvez♥ & Eric Vang
Mary Dryden
Robert Finney❉
Renee Fish
(In honor of Kate Roberton)
For Women, Inc., Obstetrics, Gynecology and
Gynecologic Surgery
Vanessa Freytag
(In honor of Janet & Sally Neidhard)
Barbara Garvey Jackson, ClarNan Editions
Lois Gish & Tim Kraus
Louise Gomer Bangel
Shelley Graff
Lawrence and Rita Gray
Bud & Joy Haupt
James Hellyer & Thomas Wetzel
Judy Herbold ♪
Barbara Jackson
Jim & Kak Johnson
(In honor of Kate Roberton)
Jennifer Lawson♥
Barb Liphardt
Jim Lowenburg & Karen Mandell❉
Mary Mahoney
Julie Maslov Goodman ♪
Jennifer Milau ♪
Sally Neidhard ♪ & John Silvestro
(In honor of Janet Neidhard)
Bonnie Neumeier
(In honor of Founding Women of MUSE)
Barb & Mort Nicholson
Rhonda O’Reilly
David & Kathy Rentz♥
Mary Rivers❉
Mary & Phil Russo
Jill Silvers ♪
Jan Smith♥ & Carol Wolf
(In honor of the fabulous SII’s)
Dr. & Mrs. Hardy Sorkin
(In honor of Kate Roberton)
Melissa Stephens ♪_ & John Wilson
William and Carol York
(In honor of Julie Goodman)
Calliope ($25+)
Amazon Smile
James Augustine
William Bastien
Maria Blake
(In memory of Kate Wood)
Richard Chamberlin and Jill Ortiz
Mr & Mrs. Charles Chase
(In honor of Kate Roberton)
Pamela Conine
Lesta Cooper-Freytag♥
Gordon Copperthwaite
Wanda Davis
Annie Donnellon♥ & Jamie Davis
Kelly Edmondson
Diane Foote
Jamie Fota ♪
Susan Glas
Naomi Goertz ♪
Arianne Hartsell-Gundy
Dale Hodges
Janie Hua
Jeannie Hua♥
Julia Indalecio
Carl & Mary Kantner
(In honor of Charmaine Moore)
Kaeden Kass
Maria Kitsinis ♪
Sue Kronenberger♥
Joanna Lounsbury
(In memory of Sr. Barbara Wheeler, OP)
Lois Margot Marples
Ricci Michaels & Angela Gordon♥
Lauren & Shelton Mooney
(In honor of Kate Roberton)
Mary Morgan
Brian Mueller
Ruth Murray
Carol Neu
(In honor of Ruth Rowan)
Gillian Oakenfull ♪ and Cindy Walsh
Gail Piraino
Mary Anne Poggenburg♥
Michael Ramundo & Beverly Thomas
Joan Reiniger
Jim & Karen Roberton
(In honor of Kate Roberton)
Sue Ruhe-Hallquist
Mary & Phillip Russo
Lisa Schreihart
(In honor of Ruth Rowan)
Cynthia Schuler
Ann Simon Koppelman♥ & Diantha Rau♥
Cynthia Smith♥
Betty Stacey & Joan Lauritsen
(In memory of Lisa Pierce)
Sandy Stehlin
Sharlene Stempler
Molly Stephens
Rhonda Whitten ♪
Diane Wright
Jonah Yokoyama
Deborah Zoernig
(In memory of Shirley Allen)
Peter Zoernig
(In memory of Shirley Allen)
Enduring Spirit Award honors
Deb Meem and Michelle Gibson
For nearly two full decades, Michelle Gibson and Deborah Meem have shared
a deep and powerful love – a love that has seen them through years of
building their family together in Ohio, a love that has flourished with mutual
academic interests in writing, feminism, and LGBT scholarship, a love that has
provided the support they have needed to endure the challenges that life has
presented to them.
However, because they live in Ohio, Michelle and Deb are told every day that
their love is not significant, that their commitment is not worthy of the respect
and protections of marriage.
That’s why this spring they joined together with other couples and counsel
at Gerhardstein & Branch Co., LPA and Newman & Meeks Co., LPA to bring
the freedom to marry to the Buckeye State. They are the named plaintiffs in
Gibson v. Himes, filed in April of this year.
The women were asked to join the case shortly after Ohioans celebrated
two big victories – rulings declaring that Ohio must respect the marriages of
same-sex couples legally performed in other states. The decisions were both
in cases brought by the firms working on Gibson v. Himes.
“The attorneys approached us about the possibility of joining this, and it
didn’t even take any thinking,” Michelle said. “We just said yes. We live here
in Ohio – this case is about where we live,” Michelle said. “We could go
somewhere else, I suppose, but that’s not fair. That’s not where we live. We
live in Ohio, and in Ohio our union should be respected.”
Michelle and Deborah are proud grandmothers (‘Mimi’ and ‘Grandma,’
respectively), and they’re excited for the day when they can finally marry in
their state.
“We have such depth and such intensity in our relationship. “Whether the
law recognizes that or not, the intensity remains,” Michelle said. “But it
only seems right that we should not be discriminated against just because
someone else has decided that there’s something wrong with our relationship.
If it’s this intense and this wonderful and we support each other in all of these
ways, how can there be anything wrong with our relationship?”
Article courtesy of http://www.whymarriagemattersoh.org/michelleanddeborah/
Upcoming Events
April 23, 2015 7 pm
Take Back the Night
World Peace Bell, 425 York Street,
Newport KY 41071
June 6, 2015
Grand Opening for Museum
of Spiritual Art
318 South River Street,
Franklin OH 45005
July 12, 2015
MLB All-Star Sing!
Washington Park,
Cincinnati, OTR
August 22, 2015
Auditions for 33rd Season
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June 15-18, 2016
Chorus America Conference
Cincinnati, OH
July 2-6, 2016
GALA Festival
Denver, CO
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BALDWIN MUSIC
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