Recent Events

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!