News & notes

What the chorus has been up to, written by the people who were there.

Tapestry: Dreams of Winter

Our annual holiday concert drew a standing-room-only crowd for an evening of festive choral music. Members performed in holiday decorations, including a lighthearted rendition of "The Funniest Face."

Halloween!

Members traded their usual rehearsal attire for Halloween and autumn costumes at a festive rehearsal, capped off with a door-prize drawing for Halloween-themed dessert plates.

Potluck Meet-and-Greet

About forty women gathered at Holy Cross Lutheran Church to catch up, welcome new singers, and pick up music for the coming season.

The Virtuous Woman: A Celebration of Women

Meridian was invited to sing at Macedonia Baptist Church’s special women’s celebration service, performing three pieces including spiritual selections with solo verses.

Potluck Luncheon and Annual Meeting

Members gathered for food and friendship, and talked through plans for the 2025–2026 season.

Mini-Concert!

Meridian performed at St. Philothea Greek Orthodox Church’s spaghetti dinner fundraiser.

Concert: A World of Gratitude

Meridian’s spring concert at Trinity Lutheran Church featured a wide range of music, with flute and clarinet accompaniment, percussion features, and guest swing dancers from Athens Swing Central joining in. Photos by Ton

MACFest at Barnett Shoals Elementary School

Meridian performed at this elementary school’s family arts celebration, joined by volunteer percussion accompaniment, and stayed on for lunch afterward.

Potluck Luncheon at Holy Cross Lutheran Church

More than thirty members gathered for a winter potluck to reconnect and build friendships.

Meridian’s Annual Tapestry Concert at Holy Cross Lutheran Church

Another standing-room-only holiday concert, with collaborative performances alongside several guest ensembles including recorders, handbells, and a cappella groups.

Happy Halloween at Holy Cross Lutheran Church

Another costumed rehearsal celebration, complete with a door-prize drawing for festive decorative items.
Photo from Meridian Women's Chorus's Patchwork Concert at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2024-10-20.

Patchwork Concert at Trinity Lutheran Church

Meridian performed "The Four Seasons of Praise," a choral song cycle based on Shaker hymns celebrating the seasons.

Annual Meeting and Potluck Luncheon

Members handled a bit of chorus business and shared a meal together; the next potluck was set for August 29.
Photo from Meridian Women's Chorus's Carnegie Hall!, 2024-06-01.

Carnegie Hall!

Several Meridian members joined the Athens Master Chorale to perform Mozart’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall — the final performance under longtime conductor Joseph Napoli.

Spaghetti Dinner at St. Philothea Greek Orthodox Church

Meridian performed eight favorite selections from an earlier concert, followed by a complimentary spaghetti dinner. The chorus has been invited back every year since.
Photo from Meridian Women's Chorus's Spring Concert: Animals Everywhere!, 2024-04-28.

Spring Concert: Animals Everywhere!

A standing-room-only spring concert at St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church, built around animal-themed music.

Barnett Shoals Elementary Family Arts Celebration

Meridian performed family-friendly selections at this school arts event and stayed to see other performers and the student art on display.

Classic City Band Spring Concert

Meridian joined the Classic City Band at Hodgson Hall to sing a contemporary choral piece addressing gun violence awareness.

New Year’s Luncheon

A winter gathering where members paid dues, picked up music, and welcomed new singers to the chorus.
Photo from Meridian Women's Chorus's Family Fun Day at GMOA, 2023-12-09.

Family Fun Day at GMOA

Meridian performed holiday and multicultural selections — carols, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa songs — at the Georgia Museum of Art’s annual family event.
Stacie receiving a check for the chorus

Saying Thank You and Giving Back

Meridian donated 20% of the proceeds from that year’s Tapestry Concert fundraiser to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, in thanks for the use of their space.

Tapestry Concert

A packed house for the annual holiday concert, with guest performances by a recorder ensemble, a handbell choir, and a cappella groups.

Halloween Fun!

Another costumed rehearsal, with a potted mum awarded as the door prize.

Patchwork Concert

Meridian performed Shaker songs and Americana music at Trinity Lutheran Church, held alongside a quilt exhibition whose proceeds supported charitable quilt distribution.

Meridian Goes to the Dogs…and Cats!

Members held a caroling practice at the Athens Area Humane Society to help spotlight the shelter, touring the animal care facilities before rehearsing holiday music.

Classic City Band’s Memorial Day Concert

Meridian joined the Classic City Band at the Jefferson High School performing arts center for a Memorial Day weekend concert.

Spring Concert: Mother Earth and Her Gifts

A well-attended, standing-room-only spring concert at Friendship Presbyterian Church built around environmentally themed music. Photos by Tony Yu.

Cats!

To celebrate Roger Vogel’s composition "The Nature of the Cat," members shared photos of their own cats at home.

Sectionals

Sopranos and altos held separate rehearsal sessions to prepare their parts for the spring concert, including the contemporary cat-themed piece.

Composer Visits

Two guest composers visited rehearsal: Sally Coenen spoke about her arrangement of "A Thousand Thanks," and Roger Vogel shared how he wrote "The Nature of the Cat," including some of the historical tools he used.

Lunch & a Movie

A social gathering with a catered Mediterranean lunch and a screening of a biographical film, plus music handed out for upcoming rehearsals.

Tapestry 2022

A standing-room-only holiday concert with guest performances from several ensembles, including the Athens Recorder Ensemble and the Trinity Lutheran Handbell Choir.

Halloween 2022—What a Ghoulish Rehearsal!

A costumed rehearsal celebration with a door-prize drawing and some good-humored seasonal performances from members.