Dancing in Chicago

My sister, Devery, teaching 330 Chicago kids how to dance

March 9-12th was an intense work-out week as I accompanied my sister, Devery McCoy, dance choreographer, to five public schools through Chicago Opera Theater’s Opera for All program. Devery taught two different dances at each school for students in grades 4th-7th, for a total of 330 students.

One dance was set to I’m Holding Out for A Hero. This is the finale number of the students opera, Jason and the Golden Fleece which they’ve been preparing the whole year! The other dance number combines the baroque composer, Albinoni’s concerto with Keisha’s Don’t Stop. The students had 40 minutes to learn the entire dance and all did a wonderful job!

Peoria Lenten Concert

Video from the Concert taken by Stephen Whitaker

Last night, Sunday, May 7th I presented a fifty minute recital for the United Presbyterian Church of Peoria for their Lenten Concert Series. It was a wonderful evening with so many friends and family present! My pianist Becky Schaidle Mueller, was wonderful and was so gracious to accompany me. (We actually made it work with only two rehearsals)

The Concert consisted of:
Lullaby
Les Chemins de l’amour
La vie en rose
Hymn a l’amour
Once Upon a Dream
A New Life
O bei nidi d’amore
Vaghissima Sembianza
La Promessa
Danny Boy
The Galway Piper
The Last Rose of Summer
In Dreams I’ve Heard the Angels

The church provided a lovely dinner for everyone and it was great to talk with everyone afterwards!

With my fans at the dinner reception!

Soloist at Lewis University

The Arts Club Benefit Gala celebrated their 23rd year at Lewis University in Romeoville, IL. Steve Heliotes and I were their entertainment for the evening! I sang One Kiss from Romberg’s New Moon and Les chemins de l’amour by Poulenc. This was a perfect fit for the evening theme of A Night at the Louvre. Steve Heliotes played Chopin’s Polonaise Opus 53, in A Major, which was outstanding. Steve and I work, or rather play together at Monastero’s Restaurant.
My sister, Meghan Christ, was my big fan and helped me prep, warm-up, and of course enjoy wine and hor’dourves.

Steve Heliotes with Buddy Charles

DePaul Prelude Choir ROCKS, literally

DePaul Prelude Choir

I direct the DePaul Prelude Choir through DePaul Community Music Division which consists of kindergarten- third grade students that interview and audition to participate in this ensemble. The kids are so wonderful and always make me laugh.

The kids sang at the METRO in Chicago which is an awesome Rock venue close to Wrigleyville. They actually started off the rock concert, which was a benefit event for Darfur, with I am but a small voice followed by Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan. The kids were all dressed in jeans and rock’n roll t-shirts. We had so much fun and the parents were thrilled to see their children on the stage!