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June 1, 2020
Friends:
It’s been a hard and painful week for our Twin Cities community, and for all of us at the Minnesota Chorale and our family of choirs. On Monday, May 25, the same day that we lost our fourth artistic director, Joel Revzen, to Covid-19, we witnessed the appalling killing of George Floyd, a resident of our home city of Minneapolis. At a time when music could help see us through these losses, we are unable to sing together due to the physical distancing practices required to mitigate the spread of the pandemic. So our pain is compounded by yet more loss—the loss of being unable to sing with each other, and with you.
We cannot undo the injustices that have been perpetrated on so many people in our community. We cannot undo the violence that has traumatized our families, neighbors, and friends. But we can and do commit to working with our artistic and community partners to stand for justice, equity, and inclusion in all that we do.
As choral artists, we are called to use our voices—sometimes in reflection, sometimes in prayer, sometimes in protest, but always in beauty, always in hope. You have entrusted us with this sacred duty.
As James Baldwin wrote, “If we…do not falter in our duty now, we may be able, handful that we are, to end the racial nightmare, and achieve our country, and change the history of the world.”
We encourage you as you are able to join with us in supporting organizations that are helping to rebuild our neighborhoods. Click this link to an article in the June 1 edition of the Minneapolis StarTribune with ways you can help.
Kathy Saltzman Romey
Artistic Director
Bob Peskin
Executive Director
Mariellen Jacobson
President, Board of Directors
on behalf of the singers, staff, and board of the Minnesota Chorale and our family of choirs
Groceries delivered to Sanford Middle School, Minneapolis, in response to community appeal
*Photo by Barbara Scharfenberg, used with permission
Friends:
It’s been a hard and painful week for our Twin Cities community, and for all of us at the Minnesota Chorale and our family of choirs. On Monday, May 25, the same day that we lost our fourth artistic director, Joel Revzen, to Covid-19, we witnessed the appalling killing of George Floyd, a resident of our home city of Minneapolis. At a time when music could help see us through these losses, we are unable to sing together due to the physical distancing practices required to mitigate the spread of the pandemic. So our pain is compounded by yet more loss—the loss of being unable to sing with each other, and with you.
We cannot undo the injustices that have been perpetrated on so many people in our community. We cannot undo the violence that has traumatized our families, neighbors, and friends. But we can and do commit to working with our artistic and community partners to stand for justice, equity, and inclusion in all that we do.
As choral artists, we are called to use our voices—sometimes in reflection, sometimes in prayer, sometimes in protest, but always in beauty, always in hope. You have entrusted us with this sacred duty.
As James Baldwin wrote, “If we…do not falter in our duty now, we may be able, handful that we are, to end the racial nightmare, and achieve our country, and change the history of the world.”
We encourage you as you are able to join with us in supporting organizations that are helping to rebuild our neighborhoods. Click this link to an article in the June 1 edition of the Minneapolis StarTribune with ways you can help.
Kathy Saltzman Romey
Artistic Director
Bob Peskin
Executive Director
Mariellen Jacobson
President, Board of Directors
on behalf of the singers, staff, and board of the Minnesota Chorale and our family of choirs
Groceries delivered to Sanford Middle School, Minneapolis, in response to community appeal
*Photo by Barbara Scharfenberg, used with permission
May 6, 2020
Friends:
It’s a busy time at the Minnesota Chorale and our family of choirs. Even though we’re not able to rehearse or perform right now, the work behind the music-making keeps us just as active as ever. Here is some of what we’ve been up to in the last few weeks:
As the swan glides serenely across the water, out of sight beneath the surface, its feet are paddling steadily to keep it moving forward. We’re focusing our energies on that paddling, and with your support, we’re making steady progress toward that bright shore that represents the day when we can all come together and sing for you once again.
Friends:
It’s a busy time at the Minnesota Chorale and our family of choirs. Even though we’re not able to rehearse or perform right now, the work behind the music-making keeps us just as active as ever. Here is some of what we’ve been up to in the last few weeks:
- Planning the end-of-year celebration and recognition ceremonies for our youth choirs
- Gathering materials for our weekly Monday Musical Meditations that we post on Facebook and our web page
- Initiating Zoom meetings with choral colleagues around the country, to gather and share ideas about our current and forthcoming work during the pandemic
- Maintaining connections with our audiences and singers through Zoom social gatherings, emails, social media, and information gathering
- Devising and implementing methodology to conduct online auditions for singers who seek to join our ranks in the coming year
- Providing resources that our singers can use to maintain their vocal health and technique
- Sharing information with our singers about pandemic-related grants and other resources for individual artists
- Managing and improving our back-office processes to even more effectively serve our singers, community, and audiences now and in the years ahead
- Seeking foundation and governmental financial support to partially replace lost income from canceled performances
- Planning for our 2020-21 Season in projects with the Minnesota Orchestra, civic partners, and our family of choirs
As the swan glides serenely across the water, out of sight beneath the surface, its feet are paddling steadily to keep it moving forward. We’re focusing our energies on that paddling, and with your support, we’re making steady progress toward that bright shore that represents the day when we can all come together and sing for you once again.
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Kathy Saltzman Romey
Artistic Director |
Bob Peskin
Executive Director |
Mariellen Jacobson
President, Board of Directors |