Recent Events

New Year’s Luncheon

Thursday, January 4, 2024

A bunch of us got together for a luncheon to celebrate the New Year. Members got to pay their semester dues and pick up their music BEFORE the first rehearsal…and enjoy catching up with each other, too! We had a great time and welcomed some new members to the chorus.

Family Fun Day at GMOA

Saturday, December 9, 2023

A group of Meridian women and friends gathered to sing for the Georgia Museum of Art’s annual Family Fun Day. We sang everything from traditional carols to Hanukkah and Kwanzaa songs, finishing with “Auld Lang Syne” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”.

Saying Thank You and Giving Back

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Our audience was so generous in giving to Meridian at our Tapestry Concert!  In gratitude for the many ways the people of Holy Cross support us and our mission to bring fine choral music to the greater Athens area, before the concert we had pledged to give 20% of the donations received that day to Holy Cross.  We were so pleased to be able to present a $400 check to Holy Cross to Reverend Hilkert.  Thank you so much to everyone who made it possible!

Tapestry Concert

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Holy Cross Lutheran Church

We had such a great concert! The place was packed and full of revelry. Here are some photos from our wonderful afternoon of music:

Halloween Fun!

During rehearsal, Thursday, October 26, 2023

Today we celebrated Autumn and Halloween with some fun: anyone who dressed up either for Halloween or in an Autumn theme would be entered in the door prize drawing. Marjanne Goozé was the lucky winner of a lovely pot of mums from Cofer’s.

Angela Helwig rocking those autumn colors!
Barbara Arnold reliving her groovy days in San Francisco
Caren Snook, there is no cuter witch than you!
Cindy Vail is planning ahead for Día de los Muertos
Now starring Denise Gabriel as tennis great Steffi Graf
Ellen Ritchey is always recruiting new singers: today’s guest has a magical air about her
Janet Rodekohr aka Eastern European Shepherdess
Jeanne Nadenicek! What’s in your hair?! And crawling up your neck?! AAARRRGGGHHH!!!
Karen Bouchard makes a lovely butterfly!
Kate McClain is stylin’ that autumn-themed ensemble!
Kathy Carter makes a great Cat Witch!
Linda Tiller really got into the spirit!
Lorraine Downie is ready to deal the cards
Marjanne Goozé sporting a vintage KMart tshirt of old
Peggye Thornburg, I think there’s something in your hair!
Roberta Merkle is the Queen of Leaves
Stacie Court couldn’t decide between a princess, a fairy, and a unicorn, so she went with all three
Vicki Connell had the best costume…look at the next photo to see if you get the joke
What a tasty necklace, Barbie!
Wren Howard, are you going out with Cindy next week?

Patchwork Concert

Sunday, October 22, 2023 at Trinity Lutheran Church

Today we performed the Shaker song “Gladsome Sound” and Marta Keen’s “Homeward Bound” for the Americana concert held in conjunction with the presentation of the church’s quilt group’s output for the year. The quilts will all go to people who could use a hug and a warm quilt.

Before the concert
Before the concert
Ellen Surrency and Trish Aamoth
Lisa Kohler and Cindy Vail; Jeanne Nadenicek and Susan Garrett; Lorraine Downie and Angela Helwig
Nan McMurry and Kevin Kelly; Janet Rodekohr
Ellen Stokowski; Wendy Arthur and Chris Lobsinger; Wren Howard, Barbara Arnold, and Kathy Carter; Cass Robinson
During the concert
Quartet from Stacie’s studio: Penny Overcash, Nan McMurry, Chris Lobsinger, and Wendy Arthur

Meridian Goes to the Dogs!  (…and cats!)

Tuesday, October 10, 2023  at the Athens Area Humane Society

Our April 28th concert will have a wonderful theme:  Animals!  And we are teaming up with the Athens Area Humane Society to raise awareness for them during the spring.  As part of our partnership we will also support them in some caroling events this holiday season.

Today some of the ladies met at the Humane Society facility for caroling practice with musician Kelsey Fredriksen (she is also their marketing director).  We got to sing through some beloved carols and then explore the facility a bit.  It was a fun morning…but those cats and dogs were so darn cute!  It was really hard to leave them there!  Hopefully they will all be going to good, loving homes very soon.

A welcoming mural!
Pre-Rehearsal
Rehearsal
Kelsey Fredriksen led the singing
Group photo during tour
So much to see!
So many cute animals!
Ellen Stokowski wants to bring one home!
Ellen Ritchey and Susan Garrett saying hi to the kitties
Ellen Ritchey finds a friend
Such cutie pies!
Somebody wants to play!

Classic City Band’s

Memorial Day Weekend Concert

Sunday, May 28, 2023 4 pm at the Performing Arts Center at Jefferson High School

This afternoon a group from Meridian Women’s Chorus sang at the Classic City Band’s Memorial Day Weekend Concert. It was a wonderful concert and we were so glad for the opportunity to contribute. Many thanks to Director Michael Brewer for the kind invitation!

Special thanks go to…Altos: Lorraine Downie; Janet Rodekohr; Angela Helwig; Susan Garrett; Linda Tiller; Barbara Rodgers; Betsy Vonk; Jennifer Saye; and Gabrielle Mason…

…and Sopranos: Cass Robinson; Ellen Ritchey; Nova Todd; Kathy Carter; Peggye Thornburg; Denise Gabriel; Cindy Vail; Wendy Arthur; and Pauline Rakich.

We also thank soprano Terri Tillman for joining us for the event (Michael Brewer is her husband so she was very glad to sing).

Note: I apologize to anyone who didn’t make it into a photo; the lighting was very bad for photography so many photos went to the trash despite attempts to fix them. If you have any photos to add, please send them to meridianathensga@gmail.com

Directors Stacie Court and Michael Brewer
Our biggest fans

Spring Concert: Mother Earth and Her Gifts

Sunday, April 30, 2023 4 pm at Friendship Presbyterian Church

We had such a great concert–the room was SRO and we all had a wonderful time!

(See Past Concerts page for more information about the program)

Photos by Tony Yu (a thousand thanks to you, Tony!)

Cats!

In honor of Roger Vogel’s The Nature of the Cat, we present Meridian Cats…

Soprano and Alto Sectionals, March 20th and 21st, 2023

Altos hamming it up after rehearsing Roger Vogel’s The Nature of the Cat

Sopranos getting in on the action, showing just how catty they can be!

Composer Visits:  Thursday, February 23, 2023 and Thursday, March 2, 2023

WOW!  We were so lucky to have composer visits TWO WEEKS IN A ROW! 

On February 23rd composer Sally Coenen came to our rehearsal to talk about the piece she arranged for us, “A Thousand Thanks”.  This piece was originally written for solo soprano and piano; this past fall Stacie and Sally talked about how the text would be so perfect for a piece for women’s chorus…and Sally arranged it as a gift to us!  A thousand thanks go out to Sally…we’re really looking forward to singing it in our spring concert on April 30th.

Composer Sally Coenen is a bright light in the lives of so many!

On March 2nd we welcomed composer Roger Vogel to our rehearsal. Roger has given us the use of his song cycle The Nature of the Cat for our upcoming spring concert. We were very interested to hear about his process for researching and writing, and also about his experiences playing harmonica as well. In addition, he talked about the changes in technology over the years, and showing us the kinds of calligraphy pens he worked with back in the 70s and 80s. It was a great visit, and we are working hard to do his wonderful, comical piece justice!

Roger was a dynamic speaker and interesting to listen to
Roger and his pen

Lunch and a Movie:  Thursday, January 12, 2023

We had a great lunch together, watched the movie Florence Foster Jenkins, and picked up music in advance of next week’s rehearsal–what a great afternoon!

Many thanks to Whit Richardson and Taziki’s Cafe for donating Mediterranean Salad and fixings for all of us–YUM!

Julia Shore, Janet Rodekohr, and Wren Howard
Barbara Arnold
Angela Helwig and Marge Massey
Amanda Sacchitello and Ellen Ritchey
Ellen Ritchey and Roberta Merkle
Caren Snook and Susan Garrett
Linda Tiller
Gabrielle Mason and June Mazur
June Mazur and Barbara Rodgers
Ellen Surrency and Jeanne Nadenicek
Julia Shore

Tapestry 2022:  Saturday, December 3rd

The place was packed!
It was an SRO concert–the audience spilled into the narthex, and a number of people were standing
Everyone worked so hard, and did such a great job!
The Athens Recorder Ensemble
Trinity Lutheran Handbell Choir during performance
Trinity Lutheran Handbell Choir, before the concert started
Amanda was on fire!
Oconee HS A Cappella
Oconee HS A Cappella before the concert started
Marge Massey made it to the reception ASAP!
To express our gratitude to the people of Holy Cross for the use of the space all year, Meridian pledged 20% of our fundraiser as a gift to the church. Pastor Hilkert was so pleased to receive the check from Stacie!

Halloween 2022–What a Ghoulish Rehearsal!

Amanda and Stacie LOVE the poster Bobbie made!
A good little witch checks out the seating chart BEFORE rehearsal

Ellen Surrency is ready to sing!

Angela Helwig helped sign up singers for the door prize drawing–the winner took home this lovely basket of mums

Ellen Ritchey and Bobbie Epting show their ghoulish spirit!

Pauline “Meow Meow” Rakich
I think Nova Todd has encountered a Halloween trick!
Peggye Thornburg and Cindy Lauper sang a duet of “Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun”
Wendy Arthur, Woman of Mystery
Bobbie Epting was BOO-tiful today!
Diane Riley gets the Best Smile award!
Janet Rodekohr and her groovy cats
Spooky Wren Howard
Roberta “Ooh la la” Merkle
Marge Massey showing off the latest witchy fashion
Lorraine “The House Always Wins” Downie
Kathy Carter, you are too cute!
Angela Helwig keeps on groovin’ along
Congratulations to Barbara Arnold for winning the door prize!
You all really made Director Stacie Court’s day! Thanks, everyone!