Concerts:

Our Winter Concert of Classical Song presented by combined students of the Chanson Voice Studios and the Minnesota Valley School of Music was held at Grace Trinity Church in Uptown. It was a wonderful success!

Mary Goetz, a marvellous concert pianist, accompanist and teacher, accompanied all the singers masterfully and so musically and I was moved to tears on many occasions during the evening by the outstanding vocal performances.

We had a substantial audience with more than 60 friends and family in this gloriously beautiful acoustical space, and I must admit that I was so busy rehearsing and planning and organizing that I didn't do much inviting myself. That will not be the case next time! We will be returning to Grace - Trinity next winter for another Classical Evening and hope you will all join us.

Our next recital concert will be held in the early summer in a theatre space and we will be performing old and new theatrical and possibly a few operatic pieces. Keep watching for the exact dates and locations. Keep your friends and family informed and be prepared for a lovely evening of songs from the Theatre by the Chanson Voice Studio and Minnesota Valley School of Music singers.

Anyone who would like to volunteer to videotape or photograph our next concert, please let me know. We would be very pleased.

Monday Studio Class:

Our last-monday-of-the-month studio class is going smashingly! Attendence has been strong and students are appreciating the opportunity to sing for each other and get positive feedback from their peers for their work. It has been a ton of fun with as much laughter as singing and a few tears as well.

With Mary Jo Finsterwalder's beautiful and versatile accompaniment for everything from Italian Art Songs to original rock songs, our February Studio Class included five Chanson Voice singers and one Minnesota Valley School singer. Leann Close sang a 17th Century Italian Art Song, Sebben Crudele; Jason Edwards, All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera; Leona Starnes sang Always True To You In My Fashion from Kiss Me Kate; Ed Butler, Sweet Euphoria by Chris Cornell; and Zoe and Adrienne Lenker (ages 8 and 10) sang and played guitar for their original song Everything Will Be Fine.

Our Studio Class this month will be held on March 25th at 7:30, and a small group of family and friends are invited to join us this time. As usual, we will have refreshments following. This evening, because of the added guests, I invite singers and their people to bring some of their favorite snacks and beverages. See you then!

Student News:

Cree (Christene Zins), a student of the studio for about two years, is graduating from the University of Minnesota with a Marketing degree and has just accepted a position with Honeywell in Germany! She is very excited as she spent 8 months last year in a foreign study program, made many friends, hoaned her German, and is returning to the country she will call home for a while now. All the best, dear Cree! We will miss you, your beautiful singing and your inspiring commitment to everything you do! Hard work does pay off!

Rose Young, a new student, will be helping to organize the studio and its events, including this wonderfully designed website by Marc Doty. So everyone will get a chance to meet her along the way, certainly.

Stay tuned for additions and updates!

Diana Grasselli