Another Octave Voices
!20!

Join us for our 20th anniversary concerts:
 
Saturday, May 15 @ 8 pm
St. James Episcopal Church 
West Hartford (directions)

Saturday, May 22 @ 8 pm
Unitarian Society of New Haven 
Hamden (directions)
Here and there
In addition to our concerts, AO often performs at community events and organizations. You never know where we'll show up. For example: last spring we performed at the annual Women Composers' Festival in Hartford; last summer we sang The Star-Spangled Banner for a CT Defenders baseball game and in mid-January we sang for the residents and staff of Hewitt Rehab Center in Shelton.
 
Coming up:
We're performing Saturday, March 13 at the 17th annual True Colors conference in Storrs, CT. The conference is the largest LGBTQI and ally youth conference in the country. 

Directions and info:  www.ourtruecolors.org
A year here, a year there - and pretty soon: two decades....
About 20 years ago, a group of New Haven-area women wondered, as generations of women had wondered before them: "Where oh where are the other lesbians who don't play softball?" Turns out that a bunch of us were wandering around, looking for a chorus to belong to. Being women of action and determination, we started one ourselves, and asked friends of varying persuasions to join us. Now here we are, two decades later, still acting, still
determined, and still singing. Please come celebrate with us at our 20th anniversary concerts on May 15 (West Hartford) and/or May 22 (Hamden). See above for details and/or visit our web site.
Such a production!
Getting us on stage requires the ministrations and talents of our beloved non-singing crew. Want to be part of the behind-the-scenes excitement?  Whether you're inclined toward equipment schlepping, snack arranging, lighting and stage set-up, ticket-taking, ushering - we welcome your help. Contact us to volunteer! 
Singing for you!
Looking for a memorable addition to your own or your organization's event? To book Another Octave, for a whole program or just a few songs, email us.
It pays to advertise
...in AO's program book. Reach our supportive and enthusiastic audience with info about your business, - or just say hi to someone - with an affordable display ad or sponsor listing. Contact us for more information.
AO and Airborne Jazz  Band rocked the house with All That Jazz

Another Octave, December 5, 2009. Photo: Gwen Heuss-Severance

Thanks to everyone who drove through snow to our December 5th performance of All That Jazz in Hamden. Our new venue, St. James Episcopal Church in West Hartford, drew a record crowd for our Hartford-area concert on November 21st.

Fund-raising events keep the music coming

Holly NeaRAs with most arts organizations,  we do fund-raising events to meet expenses and help us grow, as revenues from ticket sales don't cover our operating costs.

Our big event of the past year was a  much-anticipated concert in October by HOLLY NEAR, with pianist John Bucchino - a trip down memory lane for many, an introduction to this passionate singer  for others. 

Last March, we hosted Swing 'n' Sweets, a dance and dessert party DJed by Erica Champion.  Our winter poinsettia and wreath sale - made possible every year by Plants a la Carte owners Linda Bray and Carole Arnold and coordinated by Susan Smith-Franks - was a big success. Same for the basket raffles coordinated by Gina Juliano, who arranged and filled the baskets with a tempting array of items donated by chorus members, friends, and local businesses.   

THANKS to everyone who donated, participated, danced, and purchased.  Watch our web site for upcoming events.

Introducing -- us!

In each newsletter, you'll meet some of our singing and non-singing members. 

Erica Champion (alto 2 - AO member since 2008)

Erica is happy to have found friendly women who don't mind hearing her sing. She grew up singing folk songs and musicals; despite her musician father's earnest attempts, her voice was the only instrument she cared to play. Singing is one way Erica appreciates music; the other way is through swing dancing, and she is one of AO's resident dancers.

Tracy Kindler (soprano 1 - AO member since 2009)

A singer, songwriter, and natural harmonist, Tracy has sung in choruses and small groups for over 30 years. In 1982, she sang open, with Clair Mix, the SisterSpirit Bookstore in San Jose, CA. And one memorable weekend in March 2005, between rehearsals and performance of Carmina Burana at Carnegie Hall with the Sacramento Choral Society, she sang at her mother's wedding a song she'd written for that occasion. That, and other original songs, are on her 2005 CD, Celebrations.

Judy Lhamon (soprano 2 - AO member since 2004) 

One of Judy's favorite teachers in high school was Miss (yes) Catoni, director of the Glee Club, and one of Judy's biggest regrets when dropping out of college for awhile in the 60's was giving up the chance to sing Bach's B-minor mass with the college choir.  Now Judy enjoys singing with AO, playing recorder, volunteering, and going on adventures with Gwen.

Amy Weiss (alto 1 - AO member since 1989)

My work as a therapist at Yale Med School - primarily with substance abusers and those with HIV - is hard, but always fascinating. Music is central to my life, whether I am singing or listening. I love theater -  especially Broadway musicals - and reading, kayaking, gardening, and movies. I'm also a bit of a sci-fi geek - into Star Trek, Harry Potter, and the like. I would travel more often if time and money allowed.  Currently, I'm exploring “new age” thought thru books, movies, and lectures.
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