Fellow Companios,
I hope you're all well and that we'll see you at our upcoming concerts (March 30 in New York City; April 27 & 28 in Newport, RI, and Boston, MA; May 11 in America's greatest city and my home town, Philadelphia, PA) this year. As you know, I'm one of four current members of Ensemble Companio who were in the group when it was founded seven years ago, and one of three who has been in the group continuously that whole time, along with Elena Gregorio and Greg Pratt.
In those seven years, we've seen enormous change--new members every year, marriages and engagements, the birth of children, the departure of our founding director, Joe Gregorio, and of course the arrival of our new artistic director, Erik Peregrine. The most important things have, however, remained constant: the members' commitment to our mission and each other, Elena's attendance (still 100%!) and provision of baked goods (also still 100%!) at rehearsal, and the consistently excellent performance of wonderful music.
As you may also recall, seven years ago, Joe Gregorio took the very first recording of our very first concert and submitted it for consideration to the American Prize, and we won. It was an enormous achievement for a new choir. I'm writing, in part, to let you know with great pride that this year, Erik Peregrine took the very first recording of our very second concert under his direction and submitted it for consideration to the American Prize for 2018-2019. We are currently semi-finalists for both the American Prize for community choruses and the American Prize Ernst Bacon Award for performances of American music.
It's difficult to describe how satisfying it is to be with a group that can go through as much change as EC has over these last seven years and remain both consistently excellent and consistently filled with people who are not only dedicated musicians, but wonderful people. So I'd like to ask that instead of listening to my inadequate description, you simply come back and see it for yourself! Please come to our concerts this year. Rejoin. We'd love to have you back--especially those of you who are now married to one another because, hey, twofer.
Finally, regardless of whether you're able to rejoin us for our concerts or as musicians, I ask that you consider a one-time or recurring donation to Ensemble Companio. The group, through its music and its mission, remains a restorative emotional haven for its singers and a source of connection in communities of all kinds, whether established, growing, or new. We have, through collaborations with children's and college choirs, served as hopeful examples to young singers in grade school, high school, and college. And we have continued the legacy that you helped build of showing audiences that music, when performed with meaning and commitment, is moving source of comfort and insight into oneself--and others.
I miss you all and hope to see you soon.
Yours,
Michael
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