2011 Is An Exciting Year

2011 started off with a bang! Right out of the chute, I spent three weeks with the Opera Theatre of Weston rehearsing and performing in Mozart's The Magic Flute. What a wonderful experience that was. I felt like a kid in a candy shop.

First of all...Mozart. Magical, beautiful, heart-warming, stunning music and arrangements, touched my heart so many times, so deeply.

Then, the singers. Oh my, the singers! Where do I start? Pablo Bustos as Tamino. A beautiful, high tenor (Db above High C!), and such tonality, he often reminded me of an oboe. Katy Kaplan as The Queen of the Night, singing fantastically high, fast, demanding passages; vocal fireworks on display, nailed it every time. Such power and flexibility, we cheered backstage each time she finished.

Mark Womack as Papageno is a powerful, rich baritone, and a very funny actor, too. He brought such humanity to the show, a real delight to watch him.

Christopher Besch as Sarastro, a resonant and clear bass; LR Davidson, as Papagena, a bright, shimmering soprano, and an incredible comic who practically stole the show. And Matthew Knickman as Monostatos, is a strong and clear tenor.

I  have saved my favorite for last. Meagan Brus, who played Pamina, sings in a clear, honey-rich soprano with incredible emotion. I was startled every time she sang. I felt as though I was hearing her for the first time, every time, and I'd never heard anyone sing with that tonality before. She consistently sang and acted with a maturity that was beyond her years.

I truly felt honored to be a part (Temple Priests Chorus and Slave) of this production. Everyone in the production was a delight to be with and to work with. The conductor, Maestro Karen Keltner of San Diego Opera; our Music Director, Angela Gooch; our Director, Diana Stuggar; the eleven-piece orchestra, all the cast and crew alike, were thoroughly professional and fun to be with. We performed to very appreciative audiences and a great review. Suffice it say, I had a blast!

Shifting gears from that is interesting. I learned a lot as a singer, and now am focused on my own concert series, Give My Regards To Broadway. I'm performing with a new pianist, Kent Baker, of Castelton State College and the Enerjazzbigband. He is a gifted pianist and delightful guy to be with. We start the 2011 series on March 2, and have concerts booked into September. Plenty of open dates, yet, and I would love to fill them.

I am so excited about the incredible response we received last year to this new series, and the excitement continues. There are some very interesting ideas we're working on to book this into new venues and new regions. Anyone with ideas for venues in their area is more than welcome to contact us. You can email me at kelly@musicformankind.net or call me at 802/362-3806. I'd love to hear from you.

Keep an eye on the website event pages for our schedule, and Event News.

Of course I continue to contribute the proceeds of the concerts to the UN World Food Program, and last year was able to start donating some to Feeding America, as well as the local Feeding America foodbank in Vermont. We have fed over 40,000 people now with our contributions from concerts, food drives, merchandise sales and donations.

The support you have given me in this effort is really remarkable. I am deeply honored and grateful for your support, and the incredible things you have said about this effort. There are many moments in my life when your support has helped pull me through the difficult times. Music For Mankind® is alive and breathing, because of all of us working together. Thank you for all you do!

Hope to see you at a concert soon.

Best and warmest regards to all!
Kelly Moore