Concert of Hope a success!

Well we did it! We raised over $3000, had close to 200 attendees...had a good vibe on the street the next day and people are still talking about it! Thank you to all who gave time & talent: Barbara Roche, Susan Cheney, Leslie Erickson, Stephanie Peppler, Dan Martier, Pat Cahill of Coastal Impressions and Metro Rentals, the Holy Redeemer Choir and Joanne Gregory...there has been talk of making this an annual event...will keep you posted on that!

Raise Me Up: A Concert of Hope!

My first concert of ALL Christian material from I'M NOT ALONE and LET THE DOOR SWING WIDE in the Outer Banks...this is a benefit and will include the efforts of my music buds: our own violinist Leslie Erickson, cellist Stephanie Peppler and percussionist Dan Martier (yes, Laura's hubby). We will be taping this for DVD release at some point. Please read the release below for additional info and feel free to contact Susan or me for more info....and PLEASE COME!! It's the Thursday of Memorial Day Weekend.

For Immediate Release:
National recording artist, Kim Kalman, will perform songs from her contemporary Christian CDs, I’m Not Alone and Let the Door Swing Wide on Thursday, May 21, 2009,
7PM at Holy Redeemer by the Sea Fellowship Hall. Joining Kim for the evening will be violinist, Leslie Erickson, national touring percussionist, Dan Martier, cellist, Stephanie Peppler, and members of the Holy Redeemer Choir. All performers will donate their time and talents to raise money for the Outer Banks Partner Scholarship for the Nativity Preparatory School in Wilmington, Delaware.

The Nativity Preparatory ( HYPERLINK "http://www.nativitywilmington.org" www.nativitywilmington.org) educates low income boys of ALL faiths, grades fifth through eighth. All students attend the school tuition-free and are selected based on their demonstrated superior discipline and work ethics. The school was opened in 2003 by the Oblates of St Francis de Sales, an order of priests. The staff of teachers and coaches works along with the Oblates on a volunteer basis.

What does the Nativity Preparatory School have to do with the Outer Banks? Susan Cheney-O’Connell, a member of Holy Redeemer by the Sea Catholic Church in Kitty Hawk, began the scholarship fund for Nativity Prep in February 2009 with encouragement from the Pastor Father Bill Walsh. "I taught school in a New Jersey ghetto community after college and realized only education solves the poverty challenge. My 30 years of military service reinforced my belief. Because our parish priests are Oblates, I realized I had found a volunteer activity that resonated with my personal beliefs."

There are over 50 Nativity model schools in cities throughout the US - 90% of their graduates finish high school, 80% complete college. The Nativity model transforms individuals who wind up transforming communities because the whole community becomes invested in the transformation process. In essence, the cycle of poverty, crime and underachievement is replaced with the cycle of challenge, structure and success.

"In reaching out beyond our own community, we are taking positive steps in bettering our county and hence our world" says Kim.

All proceeds benefit the school. Tickets are $10 and are available through Susan Cheney (441-1575), Holy Redeemer Church (261-4700)and www.PrayerThroughMusic.com.

Address and Email updates

My computer system recently experienced a "hard drive crash." Any mailing or email addresses that were added since March 1 through April 15 of this year were lost. If you attended any shows ie Florida in Feb or March or ordered cds during that time and would like to be added to my list, please fill out the form on my web site or email me with your info. Thank you for your assitance!

Reston rendezvou

I made it to Northern Virginia in record time on Wednesday (yes my truck has wings).
St John Nuemann Church is beautiful...we had a nice warm crowd of wonderful listeners...and singers (good job folks!), some of whom I'd met at the beach in previous summers....will definitely revisit...thank you CJ for your hospitality (good luck with your organ lessons). Thursday I stopped to see Patrick Kane and his buds at the Inova Cameron Glen Care Center...we did some dancing, some joking, some singing...good time had by all...love those fuzzy, pink feet Sibella! I'll be back for bingo next time! Susan Kane arranged for me to sing at Cafe Mortmartre later that evening ...set on Lake Anne this is a beautiful replica of an Italian villa....great food, more dancing (go Lori and Bob) and singing...happy birthday to Wa, George and Bob. Thank you Ann and staff for a very nice evening. Next time you're in Reston go have dinner and tell Ann I send my regards.
Needless to say, my pillow was a very welcome site....
off to Manassas tonight...come join me!