The St Paul’s Cathedral Experience
There is a time in every musician’s life when the hours invested in improving our musical art pays off. On June 17, 2011, the Sycamore Community Summer Singers was honored to share their gift in song to the crowds gathered at the St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, England. The choir filed into the main space of Cathedral for a 1:15pm performance under the cavernous Dome, among one of the highest in the world and exceeded in size only by the one in Rome’s St. Peter’s Basilica. Directed by Linda Gartner, we presented a...
read moreA Concert You Won’t Want to Miss
The Sycamore Community Summer Singers will perform a full concert of its Europe choral program on Thursday, June 23 (7:30pm) at the Sycamore Junior High Auditorium. Come celebrate the homecoming of the choral group that had the honor of singing at the St Paul’s Cathedral in London! The concert will feature the singers of the SCSS, directed by Linda Gartner and will include a multimedia slideshow. A reception will follow the concert. (Thank you, Mrs Reece and all our devoted parent-helpers!) DO COME EARLY for the best seats in the...
read moreCalling all SCSS Stay-Home Parents!
Before too soon, SCSS will be back in Cincinnati – and performing for YOU! To all SCSS ‘stay-home’ parents: Michele Reece will be coordinating your kind efforts to prepare a reception for the Welcome Home Concert scheduled on June 23 evening (7:30pm) at the Sycamore Junior High Auditorium. For those who would like to offer their support in preparation for this reception, please contact Michele at: michelereece@fuse.net Thank you so much, and we look forward to seeing you all in 10 days’ time! -Alex Thio, SCSS...
read moreSpotlight: Dave Evans
Alex Thio: It’s my honor to interview one of adult SCSS choir members, Mr Dave Evans! Tell us, Mr Evans: how DID you stumble upon SCSS? Dave Evans: Like many people involved in SCSS, my daughters went through intensive “Gartner training” while students at Sycamore Junior High School. My oldest daughter Abby traveled and sang with SCSS on one of their earlier trips to Germany and Austria and our entire family, including my wife Mary Lou and youngest daughter Sally, were fortunate enough to travel with the group to Spain...
read moreSpotlight: Kelsey Drapkin
It’s a privilege for me to interview one of our 2011 SCSS members, Kelsey Drapkin! AT: The SCSS Europe 2011 tour promises to be a phenomenal experience for all. Can you share with us what excites you most about the upcoming trip to Europe? KD: I’m most excited about travelling with Gartner one last time. Though I’ve already been to Paris and London, I know the promise of a new experience is something that Gartner will follow through with. I’m also quite excited to again visit my favorite hot chocolate shop in...
read moreOn Stage with SCSS Alumni Zack Steele
It is always a pleasure to witness how the way many SCSS alumni members pursue their musical talents. Today, I would like to spotlight one of these talented SCSS members: Zack Steele (SCSS 2006) Interview with Zack by Thio: AT: You are no stranger to the SCSS as an alumni of this choral group. Tell us when you first joined the SCSS and which countries you had the pleasure of visiting and performing at with the group. ZS: I first joined SCSS in 2006 the summer before the group left. I remember being so nervous for the audition that I could...
read moreRemembering Spain: Christine McLaughlin
The summer of ’09 has had a lot of challenges in store for me. Challenge #1? Stay awake for 30 hours straight upon arrival to Barcelona. I must admit, I barely overcame this one without passing out into my paella at dinner and credit my narrow victory to a rest at the hotel (during which I did NOT take a 47 minute siesta…). Challenge #2? Acquire gelato at every possible opportunity. I lost count at ten. Success! But I guess the greatest challenge of all is posed in the form of a question asked by my family and friends: “Spain—what...
read moreRemembering Spain: Aaron Natarus
My trip to Spain was not like any other vacation I have been on before. Not only did we travel to Spain as tourists, but we went to sing as well. Also all of the people that were apart of the trip greatly influenced the outcome. The first day that we were in Spain touring I greatly enjoyed myself and thought this trip was well worth it. I was actually in Spain! Then the next day when we had our first concert in a cathedral, I realized that this is the reason that we practiced so hard during the entire year and that touring Spain was just an...
read moreLinda Gartner Falls Out of Plane
In an unprecedented act of bravery, SCSS Director Linda Gartner chose to fling her dear self out of an aeroplane, 10000 feet over Warren County on Saturday, June 27, 2009. Thankfully, there were parachutes involved, and a trained expert. We at SCSS are grateful that Gartner landed safely on terra firma without any damage (visible damage, that is; psychologically, that’s up for grabs). We congratulate Linda Gartner for giving new meaning to the term FEARLESS LEADER. Watch Linda Gartner’s skydiving video hosted here at...
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