Music For Mankind® Creates Joint Fund-Raisers

Our first-ever joint fund-raiser!

"The San Diego Women’s Club and Music For Mankind® proudly present Kelly Moore in “Give My Regards To Broadway”, a one-hour musical production, Saturday March 9, 2013 at 2:30 PM."

That sentence is the culmination of over a year's work from the time I originally had the idea of doing this. In the process I moved to California to help make it happen. The performance will be at the San Diego Women's Club in downtown San Diego. I'm really looking forward to it.

So much has happened since then, and so much more can possibly happen. 

Last week I sent a press release about Music For Mankind® out through Business Wire and it was picked up by newspapers all over the country and all over the world. As of this writing it has been viewed 777 times!

You can read the article on Yahoo! Finance, and on Google you can see some of the other publications that picked it up.

It's a new start, a new beginning. Stay tuned for more...

Home, Sweet Home

Big changes lead to big experiences.

It's difficult to believe it's already been three months since I arrived here in Temecula, CA. By the way, that's pronounced "ta-meh-kyoo-la". 

So much has happened since I left Vermont August 31. 

First, Billie, my 18 year old kitty and I drove nearly 3,000 miles in seven days to get here. Our route took us through twelve states, from Vermont to New York State, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, then finally California! Whew! 

And unbelievable experiences and sights all along the way. I could go on and on just about the trip. In fact, I wrote a journal email to family every day, with photos. It was a lot of fun, and I never dreamed what an incredible trip it would be. 

Every state was different, from the lush-green farmlands of New York to the rolling hills of Indiana, the High Plains of Nebraska, jaw-dropping, majestic beauty of the Colorado Rockies, then the desert mountains of Nevada, the gorges of Arizona, and on. One amazing day after another.

Once we got here it was time to start setting up our home. The movers arrived two weeks later, bringing a whole new level of stuff to deal with. Frankly, I'm still trying to figure out where stuff goes, and get it all out of the cardboard boxes. Billie is quite happy with life here in sunny, southern California. 

California

Everything about California is much different than Vermont. The weather, the scenery, the traffic, the shopping centers, the language, the roads, even the fast-food restaurants are different. The people are great, though, making such a big move a much easier transition for me.  

I really love it here, and while I know it will take awhile to get everything running up-to-speed, I feel certain in my heart that this was the right move at the right time.

The Possibilities

Here in California I have many possibilities and opportunities to continue growing Music For Mankind®. Some of them are already in the works and others waiting their turn. It's a process, like life, and takes time and patience. The response to this effort is very enthusiastic and I'm quite excited about the future.

I finished the last of my Vermont concerts about a month early, knowing that the next season wouldn't really start until springtime. And here everything is timing up perfectly to start right in with a new series in California for the Spring.

We Still Need Your Help

Each year I have sent out a letter to those I think might be able to help us financially so that we can continue our work. This year I'm asking that you please help by making any contribution you can through the website and I will personally make sure that your contributions go to help those, here and abroad, in need, especially the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

If you can help, please send your contribution in before December 31. And I really mean it when I say that any amount will help. The website page will direct you to easily contribute using PayPal.

So onward we go to new adventures. I'm including below a photo that I took recently on a trip down the coast. It speaks for itself. 

Thank you for your continued enthusiasm and support!

Senator George McGovern

As I am sure all of you know, today we lost a champion in the fight against chronic global hunger. I am deeply saddened by this news, yet even stronger in my conviction to continue the work that I have begun.

Senator McGovern not only held the banner, but he created it. The United Nations World Food Program is today what it is, because of his tireless efforts starting back in the 1960's, as well as the untold thousands and possibly millions who have been a part of this effort. He is, and will always be an inspiration to me.

I was fortunate to meet Senator McGovern in Washington, DC at the 2009 Annual Awards Ceremony for World Food Program USA. To have done the little that I have done, and to meet a giant in this effort, the founding father, is a moment I will always cherish.

I greatly appreciate your support in my efforts.

Best and warmest regards to all,  

Music For Mankind® Finds Home In California

I know! Every year I say the same thing, "Wow, this year is even more incredible than last year!" And really, each one is truly startling to me. I still can't believe all the stuff that has happened since I started this effort. And now, California.

Really, today someone said to me, "California's the place you ought to be!" All I could do to keep from laughing. So I recited (I usually sing it. Ask my son. He HATES that!), "So they loaded up the truck and they moved to Beverleee...Hills, that is. Swimmin' pools an' movie stars." I'll be singing that for seven days driving through VT, NY, PA, IN, IL, NE, CO, NV and CA! The alphabet soup trip.

Did you read the recent newsletter? Says it all there. So much has happened in such a short time, it's clear that it's time to move to CA. Temecula, to be precise. About halfway between LA and San Diego. I can perform in both areas and Palm Springs. All within an hour and a half of Temecula. Centrally located. We're talking a whole lot of possibilities.

Nice weather, too! Yes, I'll get to ride my motorcycle twelve months of the year. Like after 40,000 miles in three years isn't enough. But I digress.

So after five and a half incredible years of Music For Mankind® in VT, NY, MA, NH, and CA (alphabet soup time, again), I realized that a lot can be done in CA. And who knows where we go from there. I'm supposed to know. But guess what? Life is an amazing mystery. And an incredible adventure. And what I do know is that I get to keep discovering new and exciting ways to help. Truly I am humbled by this opportunity that presents itself to me every morning.

And grateful. Very.

So what do you think? As I plow into new territories and new horizons, what ideas and suggestions would you like to share with me? I've been waiting to ask you this question for a long time, and this feels like the right time. New beginnings, new life, new ideas.

The canvas is waiting for the brush.

Thank you to all who have helped us to this point. Thank you to all who will help us from this point onward.

While I sit in my office planning, writing, communicating; work in my studio writing, singing, dancing, recording, playing who-knows how many instruments; driving around performing all kinds of totally different shows, it may seem like this is a one-man operation. I often talk about "us" or "we". There is a small group of us that oversee this effort, and yes, it's true, I do a huge bulk of the work. But it's all meaningless unless through my efforts I can inspire you to help, either by some organizational effort or actual contributions. I can't do all of that. So in the end, it's all of us together that make this beauty happen.

So Westward, Ho! to California. New adventures await. And in the end, we get to help many, many folks who are truly grateful for our efforts. Again, I'm humbled.

Thank you for your support and enthusiasm. I look forward to hearing your ideas.

Best always,

Singing the National Anthem To Help The Hungry

Once again I have the incredible honor of singing our National Anthem for the Vermont Lake Monsters baseball game in Burlington, Vermont on Saturday July 7, 2012 at 6:05 PM.

And while promoting that event we are selling tickets to that game (you get to hear me sing!) through this link and $3 of every ticket sold using the link will be contributed to the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf of Burlington, VT, a Feeding America Foodbank affiliate, and the United Nations World Food Program. I say it all the time, and it's true. We really are helping locally and globally. And even more true, we need your help to succeed in our efforts.

Please let me say that again. We need your help to succeed in our efforts.

The link is active until June 7, 2012, so get your tickets now.

Enjoy an evening of minor league baseball (the best!) at affordable prices in a stadium that will take you back to the "good ole days" and at the same time help those who struggle every day to survive.

I say that last line a lot, too. I've seen it. Maybe you have, too. I'll never forget the look in those children's eyes in Nicaragua when I handed them a bowl of food.

Hungry.

For many of them it was the only meal they would get all day. They walk 8 mountainous miles up a dirt road to go to school and get one meal with added nutrients so they have all the nutrition they will need for the day.

Hungry.

The incredible work of the United Nations World Food Program makes that food and that help possible.

And here in this country where we have so much, there are families who struggle every day. Organizations like the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf really make a difference in their lives.

So please help us help them. Come to the game. Buy your tickets early through this link.

Can't make it to the game but would still like to help? Donate here and we'll send the money directly to the organizations.

Rob Meehan, Director of the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf said, "We are honored to once again have Kelly Moore and Music For Mankind help us in the fight against hunger. The funds raised by Music For Mankind will be used to buy food for the growing number of people in need throught the Burlington and surrounding towns in Chittenden County. This donation comes at a time when our food supplies are low and our donations are down. Thank You Kelly for all you do!"

We really can make a difference together. I keep hearing and reading about donations in these very difficult economic times being down, and support overall being much lower. A ticket to a baseball game, or a donation of a similar amount doesn't seem like much. But it can really make a difference. Really!

When I sing the National Anthem it's a very moving experience for me. And singing it to help others means so much more.

The Vermont Lake Monsters are the only organization that have offered me this opportunity to help at the same time. Their generosity simply cannot be overstated. I am incredibly grateful that they make this possibility a reality for me to help in this way.

I sincerely hope that you will join us in this effort. Ticket sales through this link and donations here will make the difference. Please help.

Thank you for your continued enthusiasm and support.

Kelly Moore
President/CEO
Music For Mankind, Inc.

Sunny Southern California Tour A Huge Success!

I arrived in San Diego on Thursday March 22. What a difference from Vermont! Sunny skies, warm, no snow (of course there really wasn't much snow when I left Vermont, either!), green trees, green grass, flowers blooming everywhere, and a delight to see my friends Mark and Patti Ashley, who put me up for ten days, and put up with me for ten days. We had so much fun together and they showed me around southern California, via practically every restaurant we passed. If you were following me on my personal Facebook page you'll know what I mean.

Monday I rehearsed  in the morning with pianist Dan Durand who performed with me at Paradise Village, and in the afternoon I rehearsed with Chris Allen, pictured here, who performed with me at both St. Paul's Manor and St. Paul's Villa.

Both pianists were fantastic, working quite well with my interpretations of the music. We performed at Paradise Village on Thursday March 29, St. Paul's Manor on Friday March 30, and St. Paul's Villa on Saturday March 31. Paradise Village is in National City, CA, a southern neighborhood of San Diego, and both St. Paul's Manor and St. Paul's Villa are in downtown San Diego. All three are beautiful and we were welcomed warmly by all.

Marina Hernadez, the Activities Director at St. Paul's Manor was very enthusiastic about the performance and the reception we received. "The performance was amazing! It was refreshing to book entertainment with true talent. The audience felt like they were at a real Broadway show. They were in awe of how beautifully you sang and how expressive you were as you performed. I think all facilities should have Music For Mankind booked at least twice a year." Thank you, Marina! I really enjoyed working with you throughout this project, and look forward to our return.

And Alison Dunn, the Activities Coordinator at St. Paul's Villa was also super-pleased with our performances. She wrote to me, "Everyone loved your show! I could see it on the (St. Paul's Manor) residents faces during your performance. Here at St. Paul's Villa, the word is out that you were fantastic! Please let me know when you’re back in town and we will definitely bring you back for another performance." And thank you, Alison! I enjoyed your enthusiasm for our efforts and our show.

Bill Reando is the Activities Director at Paradise Village, and while I was able to only spend a couple of minutes with him afterward,  he was obviously quite pleased with the response to our show. Talking with the residents afterwards, they simply could not have been happier and they thanked me profusely.

I should take a moment here to talk about the reponses, because it never ceases to move me quite deeply.

I grew up in musical theatre, and the songs I perform are all ones from shows I've either performed in, worked in some technical aspect (lights, sets, sound, music) or have seen or simply have heard and love the music. At this point, for me, these songs are like old and dear friends, and to revisit them in this way is very sweet and I truly feel honored to have the ability to do these performances.

Currently I'm performing at retirement homes, and the residents all grew up with this music as adults. Many of them lived in New York and have seen all or almost all of the shows. And all of the residents have seen the plays or movies. These songs remind them of their youth, and all the sweet memories they cherish.

As I perform, I watch them carefully for their reactions; I see the far-off looks, the happiness in their eyes, and the tears. I've seen people weep through my entire show, song after song after song taking them back to a time they love so dearly. I've seen people holding hands and weeping together, talking quietly about their experiences. I've seen people smiling and singing along, some of them, song after song after song. Some people never sing, and they only watch me. Yet most all of them, at the end of the show, sing along on "Edleweiss" from "The Sound of Music". I like to sing that as a happy song, of our cherished memories we hold together in that moment.

Then after the show, I always spend time with them, thanking them for coming to the show and sharing such sweet memories. They hold my hand, oftentimes both my hands, and thank me profusely, many of them with tears in their eyes, and tell me how wonderful it was to revisit their memories, how they feel young again. Sometimes they hug me, and I feel as though I've met an old friend again.

Personally, for me, there are so many emotions about this. The sharing of such deep feelings together and the songs themselves, which hold deep meanings for me, too. Sometimes it's all I can do to keep the tears back, too. The show must go on.

The kindness of the retirment homes to have me perform, and invite me back again and again. I simply can't thank them enough because it not only helps them with their program, and is such powerful therapy for the residents, but after paying my pianist, I then am able to contribute the rest to the organizations who are doing so much for so many who have so little.

And let me take a moment to thank them for their incredible work. The United Nations World Food Program, Feeding America, and The Prem Rawat Foundation, as well as local food cupboards, the Manchester Community Food Cupboard in Manchester, Vermont and the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf in Burlington, Vermont. Thank you, all, for your caring, your determination and your constant efforts.

To be able to perform, and then contribute what I can from these performances to these organizations means so much to me, and again, I feel honored to be able to help in this small way.

As you can see, there is so much going on in this little effort, and so much more can be done. I am constantly looking for new ways and new venues to perform. It still amazes me how many possibilties there are for continuing this effort.

After an incredible ten days in California, I returned home to Vermont, and have already performed in Montpelier. That's another story for another day. Many more performances are already booked for this year, and I continue to call and book more dates.

Thank you for your enthusiasm and support of this cause to help alleviate chronic global hunger. With a global population nearing seven billion, yet still the ability to produce food for ten billion, this is a problem with a solution. I feel an incredible pride in our efforts together.

Best and warmest wishes to all.

Music For Mankind® Events 2012

Starting a new year! Wow. It's amazing to realize this is our sixth year. So much has happened in the past five years, it's incredible to think that more can still happen, but it can, and does and will.

2011 was quite an exciting year. I was involved in several events; an opera, a musical, a dance contest, and the audition for America's Got Talent; outside of our normal concert series, and at the same time the concert series did better than ever. As if that wasn't enough, I sang the National Anthem at stadiums all around the Northeast, at each event promoting Music For Mankind®.

2012 brings a whole new set of events. In December 2011 I studied Show dance, then in January took lessons in Tap dance. I added quite a bit more dance; Jazz, Show, and Tap; to the show.

During this time I worked with stage director Diana Stugger of Opera Theatre of Weston to fully stage Give My Regards To Broadway. The concert is now a show, with a lot of movement, and themes to each song. Having grown up in theatre and musical theatre this feels right to me, as though I've come back home. I'm enjoying the show now on an entirely new level, and the response is wonderful.

Here's what Dorothy Sullivan, Activities Director of Wheelock Terrace said about our show earlier this month.
 
"Kelly Moore's performance of Give My Regards To Broadway is nothing less than spectacular! His singing is absolutely beautiful and he presents himself with confidence and professionalism. Add to that, his new found talent, tap dancing!

The audience thoroughly enjoyed Kelly's performance. The songs from Broadway shows were very well received as they are known and loved by those who came to hear him. The hour performance went by too quickly and we look forward to having Kelly perform again in the near future.

I would highly recommend Kelly Moore and his program Give My Regards To Broadway to others. This performance is not to be missed!"

--Dorothy Sullivan, Activities Director, Wheelock Terrace, Hanover, NH

We've started this year off with several concert "shows" in Vermont and New Hampshire, and later this week I head to California for several dates in San Diego, my first performances of Give My Regards To Broadway on the West Coast!

When I return from California there are several performances booked in April and May, then more later in the year, including singing the Star Spangled Banner in July for the Vermont Lake Monsters.
 
Dates are booked throughout the year, so keep an eye on our Events page.

I wish to thank our sponsors Luxbrush Painting Company, Maple Street School, The Image Loft, Graph-X and Manchester Carpet Care, and everyone who reads this for your support and enthusiasm for Music For Mankind®.

Best wishes to all,
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
President/CEO
Music For Mankind, Inc.

Our Sponsors Are Angels!

We would like to gratefully thank our new Angel Sponsors for their generous contributions to Music For Mankind®, helping to fuel our work in doing all we can to alleviate chronic global hunger. No one should go to bed hungry.

You will see their logos on our website, newsletters with links to their websites, and read about them in our press releases. If you wish to become a sponsor, please contact us at info@musicformankind.net or 802-362-3806 or go to our Sponsorship page.

Our sincerest thanks!

Thank You and Happy New Year!

What A Year!

A year ago at this time I was in rehearsals for Mozart's The Magic Flute. I had no idea at that time that this year would turn out the way it did. And now it's drawing to a close. Looking back, it's still hard to believe that all of this has happened in just one year.

I owe a lot of thanks to a lot of folks for making this possible.

Thank you Nan Nall and Lise Messier of Opera Theatre of Weston, my vocal coaches and Producers of "The Magic Flute; Paul Opel, Kent Baker and Gary Schmidt, my pianists - 32 performances of Give My Regards To Broadway since we started, in Vermont, New York, Massachussets, and New Hampshire. Thank you to all our gracious hosts for having us.

Rip Jackson, Mitch Rosengarten and Diane Chart of Grace Congregational Church in Rutland for the opportunity you gave me to perform in Miss Saigon; and all the cast and crew. What an amazing and emotional experience that was.

Thank you Katie Gartner and Manchester Music Festival for the opportunity to sing with you this summer. Suprises are such fun!

Bernadette Robins and all the folks of Dancing With The Rutland Stars, and especially my dance partner, Nicole Fabian; thank you for giving me the opportunity to dance! What a joyful time we all had.

Thank you Kristi Segura, Jim Raposa, Ashley Hensel-Browning, and Erica Schmidt for all the dance lessons. What a joy to be dancing again.

My sincere thanks to The Vermont LakeMonsters, Tri-City ValleyCats, Pittsfield Colonials, Lowell Spinners, and University of Vermont Catamounts for the opportunity to sing The Star Spangled Banner. I am deeply honored.

My sincere thanks to my Board of Directors for believing in me and believing in my vision. I simply could not do this without you.

Jayne West, I cannot thank you enough for your incredible work on the Music For Mankind® website, your help with all of these emails, your friendship and support. You are a gem!

My deepest gratitude, however, goes to those of you, friends, family, and folks I've never met, who have so generously contributed to this cause.

I still remember standing in that stone hut in the mountains of northwestern Nicaragua in 2008, handing simple bowls of food to children who walk eight miles every day up and down mountainous, dirt roads just to go to school and receive what, for many of them is the only food they will eat all day; that simple look of gratitude in their eyes will stay with me all of my life. It brought tears to my eyes. It's because of you who contribute that make this possible to continue yet one more day. I so wish you could stand in that hut with me and see that look.

I feel as though this year has been a big stepping stone. I'm not completely sure where it's going. I have some glimpses. We'll see. But it has been absolutely amazing.

Thank you, with all of my heart, for all that each of you have done with me this year. Here's to 2012! May it bring happiness, peace and prosperity to all of you.

Best and warmest wishes to all,

Letter From The President

Five years ago in March 2007, after six months of planning and hard work, my dream of Music For Mankind® became a reality when we performed our first Music For Mankind® concert at the Riley Center For The Arts at Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, Vermont. Since that day we have fed nearly 40,000 people and counting.


I didn't do this by myself. It has taken the care and efforts of many people to get us where we are today.

Two years ago I started the Music For Mankind® Annual Fund Drive to help us in our efforts; through concerts, lectures, documentary presentations, and food drives; to help those who struggle every day to survive, and my heart is deeply touched with gratitude every time we receive a donation.

Music For Mankind® continues to grow. Your help is needed at this time to help us in that growth. Materials and supplies are needed for our new programs that we will be launching in 2012. These programs can put us on a new and bigger "stage" with the ability to help many more people, here at home, and around the world.
 
I'm personally reaching out to you at this time to ask you to please give, even a little. In our Declaration of Hope Sponsorships page you can learn about giving a one-time donation, or sign up for our new monthly subscription. There are several levels of giving, and any level in which you can give will help tremendously. Please take a moment to visit and give. Every little bit really does help.

Thank you for your time, consideration and support.

Sincerely,

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kelly Moore
President/CEO
Music For Mankind, Inc.

Music For Mankind Sponsorships

You can tell these children that I met in Nicaragua in 2008 suffer from severe chronic malnutrition. Every day 25,000 people die from hunger or malnutrition; 18,000 of them are children. Think about that a moment. Yet there are enough resources on this planet to feed 10 billion people. This is a problem with a solution.

At Music For Mankind® we are doing all we can to help. So far the contributions from our concerts and other efforts have fed tens of thousands of people, these two included! And we are now partnering with Feeding America, the national food bank.

 Please join us in helping others with a one-time gift or monthly Sponsorship Subscription to our Annual Fund so we may continue to move forward with our concert series, lecture series, documentaries and other fund raising initiatives. It's easy to do. Visit our Sponsorship page.

Your contribution can add immensely to fueling our work and helping those who struggle every day just to survive.

We'd like to thank you for your gift with a Music For Mankind® bumper sticker. And on our website you can learn about the the other available benefits, too.

When I left Nicaragua, a part of my heart stayed behind. People need our help all over the world.

As I like to say, " If everyone in the village brings just one brick, together we can build a foundation." Please help by sending in your generous gift today!

Thank you for your continued support!

In gratitude,

Kelly Moore

President/CEO

Music For Mankind, Inc.

The Envelope, Please!

And The Winner Is...

Several people have asked me about my experience in NYC at the audition for "America's Got Talent", and so I finally am able to take a moment and fill you in on the entire weekend. My thanks to all who have asked. It's taken me this long to get to it with my usual busy schedule and battling a nasty cold on top of that (a show of hands...who else got that cold? Blech!).

For me the audition was just the second part of an amazing weekend of performing, unlike any experience I've ever had. So let me start at the beginning.

On the morning of Saturday October 8, six couples met at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland, Vermont, a beautifully restored opera house from the ninteenth century, for the dress rehearsal of "Dancing With The Rutland Stars". If you have read my previous newsletters or posts to this blog, you already know that we were dancing to raise money to help Kids On The Move Pediatric Rehabilitation Program, the only one of it's kind in the area.

This was the final rehearsal for all of us after three months of rehearsals, each couple rehearsing a different dance at different studios around Rutland. A lot of time, care and effort go into a production of this size, and all of us were excited about the upcoming event that night.

My dance partner was Nicole Fabian, Assistant Vice President and Financial Services Manager of People's United Bank in Rutland, Vermont. We met each other at the "Meet With The Rutland Stars" meeting on August 2, held at the Rutland Country Club. From that day on we became great friends and thoroughly enjoyed dancing with each other every time we rehearsed. For us, the performance on October 8 was a culmination of an effort from our hearts. You can watch the video of our performance.

All six couples cheered each other's performances both morning and evening, and when the winners were announced that night, the real winners were indeed, the children. We raised $20,000 that night! A stunning success! A theatre full of cheering, clapping, stomping fans of local "celebrities" and their instructors sent us into the night with a feeling of fulfillment and friendship unlike any other.

Then the next morning I hopped on my motorcycle (Kawasaki Vulcan 750) and rode to New York City for my audition for "America's Got Talent". The temperature started in the mid-40s but by the time I arrived in New York it was in the 80s. A wonderful ride, and quite the adventure for me. I'm not a big fan of driving in NY (I'm not alone on that, I'm sure!) but I had just spent two weeks riding the streets of Montreal, and felt well-prepared. I also didn't have to go very far into the city.

Riding in the Lincoln Tunnel was exciting. Once through to the other side I was able to quickly find parking within a couple of blocks of the Javits Center where the auditions had been going on since the day before. I arrived about 1:00 PM, made it through registration very quickly and entered the first "Holding Room", as they called it, with a wildly estimated 300 to 500 people patiently sitting and waiting.

I found a seat and joined the wait. Nearby was a group of girl singers, not to audition as one group, but apparently friends, possbily on-the-spot, and they took turns swapping songs, and entertaining us all. Quite good "pop" voices and enjoyable songs. They drew several rounds of applause.

After awhile a producer and camera crew showed up and started arranging vignettes for later use in the show. Keep in mind, these auditions are for the 2012 show. AGT holds auditions all over the country until late February, possibly later if they need to add more. So these vignettes won't be seen until then. Nor will any of the performers who make it to the next round. Of course I'm hoping that I'm one.

Some of the more interesting scenes they shot:

A duo of older men with very long, graying hair, wearing motorcycle outfits and helmets in red, white and blue. Each carried a guitar; one a plastic, air-filled, pretend electric guitar, and the other a real, but cheap (I hope) acoustic guitar. They would proceed to beat each other over the heads with their guitars. I probably shouldn't give away performances, but that one was astonishing!

There was a very young couple who brilliantly danced a high-speed samba; and another man with very long hair under his cowboy hat, wearing a sport jacket, jeans and cowboy boots, and sang with a rich, deep and beautiful baritone voice. A real crowd pleaser. Another eye-catcher, especially for me fresh from my own dance performance, was a young couple in their twenties who beautifully and lyrically danced a cha-cha-cha. I really enjoyed them and got to speak with them later.

Finally, after waiting for about six hours, my number was called as part of a group of one hundred to move to the next Holding Room. There were "only" about 200 people in that room. We waited about an hour there, then a group of about twenty of us were called into the hallway. I could feel it was getting close, or at least closer.

Some confusion with where we were supposed to be had us going up and down the hallway, standing against the wall, splitting into two groups, back down the hallway, and finally sitting down for another ten to twenty minutes.

At last our group went into the audition room together and lined up against the wall facing the "judge". Meg was very nice, polite, professional and courteous to us all, and humorous, as well. She, like all of us, had been at this all day long, and still had her energy, focus and enthusiasm. A credit to her abilities and character.

Each of us sang in turn for our 90 seconds. My snippet of "Come To Me, Bend To Me" from the musical "Brigadoon" was acutally only 80 seconds (I timed it long before to make sure), which, though I could feel the cold starting to tickle in my throat ("No, not NOW!"), I sang it as well as I ever do, with the same enthusiasm and connection as always.

We then left the room and waited a few minutes to see if any of us were to be called back. One young man was, and the rest of us were free to go home. Show's over!

I had arranged to stay with my niece in New Jersey just 15 minutes away, and was really glad I had made those arrangements. At this point it was after 8:00 PM. It had been a 14 hour day for me at that point. I was tired, and that cold was making it's presence felt more each minute.

The next day I rode home, again in beautiful 70 degree weather and wonderful Autumn colors.

I enjoyed the whole experience. It was a bit dull during seven-plus hours of waiting, but I worked in film and TV a long time ago and am very used to "hurry up and wait". I've gotten good at that, when need be. I should have brought a book or mp3 player for some of that down-time. I think it would have helped.

At any rate, calls to those who go to the next round won't start until January, and the word is that if I haven't heard from them by the end of April, I didn't make it. So we'll see. As I've said before, with that long of a wait, I'm not holding my breath.

Would I do it again? Maybe. It depends on a variety of circumstances. I very much appreciate that I was personally invited. These are "open" auditions and anyone can do so, but I felt honored that they had personally emailed me and requested that I take the time to audition. This came about because of a video that I had sent them during the summer.

I did learn a lot about how to prepare for that type of audition. With the very long wait time, and the particular method of audition, it is different than other auditions I've done.

I returned home and so an incredible weekend came to a close. A weekend not just filled with music, dance and performing, but something much deeper about caring. I'll not ever forget this one.

This post is quite long. If you made it this far, congratulations, and thank you very much for your support and enthusiasm.

Best and warmest regards to all,

America's Got Talent!

Yes, that's right! On Tuesday I received an invitation from America's Got Talent to audition for them in New York City! Suffice to say, I am really excited. I've been thinking about this for well over a year and sent them a video this past summer. They like me! :)

So off to the Big Apple I go. The weather is going to be fantastic; 80 plus degrees F (26 degrees C for my international friends reading this!) and I'm going to ride my motorcycle down there. Interestingly I took the same route last Spring when I went to NJ to visit relatives. So that was a great dry run. Well, it wasn't all that dry.

I digress.

This is the first-round of the 2012 competition. Get our wristbands and competitor number, stand around for hours, get our photos taken. TV taping crews interviewing us, munching snacks, drinking Smartwater, and generally enjoying the entire experience. Nervous? Nah! I love to perform. Give me a stage and I'm ready to go. And with all that time, and probably hundreds of others, at least, with the same dream, I get to meet a lot of interesting people and make a lot of new friends. What's not to love?!

Then, when the big moment comes, don't blink, because it really is just a moment. A 90-second a cappela audition. No frills. No audience. Just me and some judges. I love what I do, and I love this opportunity to show that to these folks. While it will pass in the blink of an eye, I'll drink it all in. It's my chance. Win or lose.

And if I get to go to the second round, then...stage, lights, cameras, celebrity judges, and audience. I've seen a little bit of the show on TV and YouTube. These folks know how to build a set! And light it! If I get there, what fun this will be.

On the Audition Info they send they ask me to tell a little bit about me. Music For Mankind is so important to me, and as many of you know, I usually can't stop talking about it. Probably ad naseum. Sorry! But I've been there talking with little children with the hungriest look in their eyes you have ever, or possibly never seen. It's heart-breaking. Some day I'll tell you the story of the tears I shed when I got home.

But I digress.

So I do hope, for the sake of the possibility of bringing Music For Mankind to a bigger stage in order to help in a bigger way, that I get to go at least to round two.

This is a really exciting moment for me, in what has been an incredible year, and there's still a couple of months to go. What's next? :o

This weekend is packed. Friday dance rehearsal for Dancing With The Rutland Stars, Saturday dance dress rehearsal, Saturday night dance performance, then Sunday jump on the bike and go sing in the the one-and-only New York City! Wow.


Wish me luck!

Dancing With The Rutland Stars

Kelly Moore Will Be Dancing For Charity

"Dancing With The Rutland Stars" benefit for Kids On The Move Rehabilitaion Program

On October 8, 2011 at 7:00 PM, my dance partner Nicole Fabian, Manager of People's Bank in Rutland, Vermont and I will join five other couples at the beautiful and historic Paramount Theatre in Rutland, Vermont to help raise funds for Kids On The Move.

Nicole is a wonderful dancer, and she and I are having so much fun preparing for this competition, which is styled after the well-known "Dancing With The Stars". 

This competition is being presented by Friends of Kids on the Move and Rutland Health Foundation, and they are doing a great job.

Dancing With The Rutland Stars pairs professional dancers with local celebrities, and there will be several trophies and awards given out. Everyone wins, but mostly the kids win.

You can read more about this event in our latest newsletter.

One of the awards is the Dancing With The Rutland Stars People's Choice Award. You can vote for me and Nicole here by clicking on the Vote link on the left-hand side of the page. Voting starts soon, and since this event is not broadcast live, voting must be completed by October 8, 2011.

I'm very excited to be a part of this event. While not a Music For Mankind® event, and while it's "out of the box" of my other events, it's such an incredible opportunity to continue helping the children.

Nicole and I will be dancing a "saucy" little merengue number. We're planning on getting a video on the Music For Mankind website.

Please visit the Dancing With The Rutland Stars website and see what's going on. This is already fun, and more on the way.

If you are not able to attend the event but would like to help you can contribute directly to Kids On The Move.

My sincere thanks to all for your continued enthusiasm and support of Music For Mankind®.

La Torreador - The Fun Never Stops

Recently I was invited to be part of a surprise performance with artists from the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann's Young Artists Development Program. The concert took place last Thursday evening, August 18, 2011 at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester, Vermont. This was the final 2011 summer concert for the Manchester Music Festival, and featured Layla Claire, Soprano; Renée Tatum, Mezzo Soprano; Andrew Bidlak, Tenor; Edward Parks, Baritone; and Caren Levine, Piano.

A delightful and full two-hour concert, the audience was rockin' throughout, thoroughly enjoying the vocal and piano pyrotechnics, sweet melencholy and emotional pieces, and huge dynamic range of music, vocal and instrumental ability of all.

The last piece was "Votre toast, je peux le rendre", the famous "Torreador" from the George Bizet opera "Carmen" featuring Edward Parks, Baritone. He delivered the popular and famous song in rich and full voice. The surprise that we had in store was that, when the song arrived at the choral section, about twenty or so of us jumped up from our seats, the house lights came up, and we sang the chorus in full SATB! The audience was absolutely delighted. Then, as Mr. Parks sang the next segment, all of us choral folks walked through the audience welcoming and sharing such a delightful moment together. As Mr. Parks sang his second chorus section, we "wandered" up to stand in front of the stage and join in on the final chorus and coda.

Of course we were totally thrilled to be singing with artists from "The Met" and applauded them vigorously. And they graciously and enthusiastically applauded our efforts as well. We all of us completely enjoyed the opportunity and fun of singing together. And we rocked the house! What a treat!

It's only mid-August, and already this year I've been in my first opera, Mozart's "The Magic Flute", performed in the powerful and emotionally wrenching musical "Miss Saigon", sang with artists from The Met, been performing my own concert series "Give My Regards To Broadway" all around New England, and have sung our National Anthem at four baseball games. And the fun doesn't stop there.

I will be returning to Burlington, Vermont to sing "The Star Spangled Banner" on Sunday August 28 for the Vermont Lake Monsters, and again on Wednesday August 31 in Lowell, MA for the Lowell Spinners, the Single A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox! I am thrilled to once again honor our country with this great song.

And each time I perform, whether it's a Music For Mankind® event or not, I hold a thought close to my heart of those less fortunate and hope that somehow my small efforts can help them in their struggles to create their own lives in peace and fulfillment.

Yet what I do can only succeed because of all of you who help me in my continuing efforts. Please know how grateful I am to you for your support.

I hope to see you at a concert, game or other event soon.

Please visit http://www.musicformankind.net/ to see all the events we have listed there.

Miss Saigon

On July 15 and 16, I will be performing in the Tony Award-winning musical "Miss Saigon", one of the biggest block-busters in Broadway history. The shows will be at the prestigious and beautiful Paramount Theatre in Rutland, Vermont. I play the part of the Assistant Commissar (Viet Cong) and I am also in the ensemble.

In short, the music is stunning. With a twenty-two piece orchestra (over 360 percussion peices, alone) it is extremely complex and demanding for singers and musicians alike.

The story, inspired by a true story and made as a variation of "Madame Butterfly", occurs during the fall of Saigon and after, following the plight of an American GI and Vietnamese bar girl. This is a very powerful and evocative telling from a personal point of view of the Vietnam War and the tragedies during that time.

Cited as one of the most praised musicals, it reveals the raw power of live theatre. This is the first time "Miss Saigon" has been performed in Vermont and is receiving quite a lot of attention from radio (Vermont Public Radio) and newspapers around the state.

Performances are as follows:
Friday July 15 at 7:00 PM
Saturday July 16 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM

Tickets can be purchased at http://www.paramountvt.org/ or call 802/775-0903

The Paramount Theatre is located at 30 Center Street, Rutland, Vermont

Kelly Moore To Sing National Anthem For Vermont Lake Monsters

It's an incredible honor for me to sing The Star Spangled Banner at the June 24 game between the Vermont Lake Monsters and the Connecticut Tigers at Centennial Field.

We've been going to the games there every year since 1996, back when they were the Vermont Expos. It's a wonderful field and stadium, and to be able to team up with the Lake Monsters to help the World Food Program and Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf is really a treat for me.

I love working with the folks at Vermont Lake Monsters and Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. And of course many of you are well aware of all the incredible opportunities WFP have provided me. I simply can't say enough good about WFP USA. They're really awesome.

The game is the first Friday game of the season. How's that? you say. Vermont is really north. So the season starts much later. It's called the Short Season League. But the baseball is still grand, and I love to go to the games when I can. And I'm thrilled to be invited to sing their first Friday game.

Game time is 7:05, and Centennial Field is located at 287 Colchester Ave., Burlington, Vermont.

So, while many of you can't get to the game, cheer for the Lake Monsters that day, and I'll keep you posted on the results.

Thanks to all for your continued support of Music For Mankind®

Play Ball!

Kelly Moore and Vermont Lake Monsters Raise Funds For The Hungry

Music For Mankind® founder to sing National Anthem

The Vermont Lake Monsters, the Single-A Burlington, Vermont Minor League baseball team of Major League Baseball’s the Oakland Athletics, and Music For Mankind® founder Kelly Moore, of Manchester Center, Vermont, are teaming up to raise funds for the United Nations World Food Program and the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, a Burlington, Vermont based Feeding America food shelf.

Kelly Moore will sing The Star Spangled Banner when the Vermont Lake Monsters take on the Connecticut Tigers at Centennial Field in Burlington on June 24, 2011, and the Vermont Lake Monsters will make a contribution from tickets sold through the Music For Mankind® website on May 24, 2011 for the June 24 game to Music For Mankind®. Music For Mankind® will then contribute those funds directly to World Food Program USA and the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf.

“We are very grateful to Kelly Moore and Music For Mankind for their efforts with the Vermont Lake Monsters to help raise funds for the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf,” said Rob Meehan, Director of CEFS. “This event helps raise awareness and support for hunger relief as we continue to see a growing number of visitors in need of food.”

“Efforts like Music for Mankind are in key in supporting WFP USA’s mission to promote policies, strategies and operations that directly benefit poor and hungry people around the world,” said WFP USA’s Ann Andrews Morris. “Thanks to Kelly, more people will be getting the life saving sustenance they so desperately need.”

“It’s an incredible honor for me to be able to help people who struggle every day just to survive by honoring our country with this great song,” stated Kelly Moore.

“Food is such a basic necessity,” he added. “There are enough resources on this planet to feed over ten billion people, yet every night over a billion go to bed hungry. This is how I can help a little with my talents, to perform my music and give what I can. It doesn’t take much to help.” 

“We are so excited that Kelly and Music For Mankind is not only participating in our 31 for 31 program, but that they are so enthusiastic about the success of the program,” Emily McDonald, Vermont Lake Monsters Director of Community Relations and Promotions said. “Kelly has really taken his involvement with this program to the next level.”

“Working with Music For Mankind is very special to us,” she continued. “Teaming up with non-profits is a huge part of who we are and to be able to make a difference state-wide is important to us. Kelly has dedicated himself to such a meaningful cause. It's one that continuously needs attention and anything the Lake Monsters can do to help his effort is very rewarding.”

 

Centennial Field is located at 287 Colchester Avenue, Burlington, Vermont. Game time is 7:05 PM.

For more information about Music For Mankind® or to purchase tickets to the game, visit www.musicformankind.net or call 802/362-3806.

Help Needed For Japan and Libya

We've all been reading about the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and then on top of that, the revolution, dare I call it, in Libya, creating massive difficulties for thousands of citizens and immigrants trapped in a civil war. People are struggling just to survive at this point. 

 

I have been receiving emails from World Food Program USA and The Prem Rawat Foundation keeping me up-to-date with the issues on the ground in both countries, and the hard work that both organizations are doing to help. And their efforts are massive.

 

When I traveled to Nicaragua in 2008 with World Fod Program USA (then called Friends of the World Food Program), I was able to see and experience first-hand what I call the Face of Hunger. And I also saw the Face of Hope because of the incredible work that is being done to aid people in these heart-breaking situations.

Imagine what the boy in the picture is feeling as he receives what is probably the only meal of the day for him. 

As simply as I can say it, please help by making a contribution. You can contribute here, and I will forward the funds directly to these organizations, or you can visit their websites and contribute directly to them. But however you do it, please help.

 

Did you know, as little as $10 will feed 40 people! It doesn't take much to help.

 

And please take a moment and visit both sites and see for yourself the work they are doing. It's an honor for me to help them in whatever way I can.

 

 

World Food Program USA

 

The Prem Rawat Foundation

 

 

Thank you for your continued support.