the struggle we are waging is going to take our whole lives long, but as I look around and see your faces, feel the fire behind those eyes, I know it is a battle we will stand and win, for freedom never dies."

The struggle we are waging might mean to be free from violence, war, poverty, greed, or the freedom to live healthy, peace-filled, balanced, whole lives and raise our children in safe caring families and communities. We share all kinds of families in MUSE, and we strive to be a microcosm of the world house.

The other part of our title "Carry It On" comes from a Civil Rights anthem by Gil Turner.

"There's a task that lies before us, we are strong when we're together, there's a word that’s needing saying, carry it one, carry it on."

As in all folk songs, people write their own verses. For example MUSE will sing (with you) this verse created by several of our members:

"In our town, we're boldly singing through the air, our songs are winging, loud and proud our voices ringing, carry it on, carry it on."

We sing as lesbian and straight women together--loud and proud--in this our evolving hometown of Cincinnati.

In this 30th anniversary concert, we will premiere many commissions. "In Your Hands," a portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt, we experience her unbridled commitment to the whole human family through her work on the Declaration of Human Rights. Written for narrator, women's choir, vibraphone and piano, Abbie Betinis stepped out of her traditional choral style, and created a composition quintessentially MUSE.

Elizabeth Alexander composed "You Were Meant for This," as she mused over the text with poet Teresa Schreiber Werth. Using repeated ostinato figures, the motor that propels the music forward supports the text to an ecstatic release. Both Ms. Betinis and Ms. Alexander hail from that most musical of US cities, Minneapolis/St. Paul. We have loved their visits here to Cincinnati to shape their original works with MUSE.

During this 30th anniversary concert we honor the eighteen-year tenure of Rachel Kramer our dedicated and talented pianist and Associate Director. Unbeknownst to her, we sneaked in a commission to honor Rachel called "Famous Phrases (that Rachel Likes to Say)." Throughout Rachel's many years of love and service, she has written scads of emails where she has displayed a propensity to use inimitable phrases. You'll hear them woven together in this piece. To honor MUSE, Eric Lane Barnes was commissioned to write a piece about the women who have inspired our name MUSE—you remember these names from Greek mythology: Calliope, Euterpe, Polyhymnia, etc. Barnes decided to update the MUSEs, and there is no doubt you will recognize many if not all of the names we sing in this humorous offering.

Ruth Rowan started to sing with MUSE 28 years ago, and twenty-seven years ago she became the MUSE interpreter, opening up our sounds to the deaf community. Her work is about inclusion and we all have experienced the widening of our circle of inclusion with the brilliant work of Ruth. Ten years ago we commissioned Music for Your Eyes, and we've brought it back, this time we coached with the composer Ysaye Maria Barnwell.

What would a 30th anniversary spring concert be without honoring composers whom we've worked with and love, or without the emblematic compositions MUSE has sung throughout the years, or without our children joining us (this year with a composition written especially for this occasion), or without the alums who will join us? What better way to conclude our concert than with a medley of Aretha Franklin songs, timeless works that resound and reverberate deep within our being, tunes that combine gospel and soul from this cross-over artist who has touched us all.

Thank you for your enduring support. It has enabled MUSE to take her place in Cincinnati among the outstanding community arts organizations in our singing city.

By Catherine Roma (Founding Artistic Director)

I offer here a possible definition by asking some questions.
• How can choral singing enable us to understand our planetary interdependence?
• Through music-making, can we comprehend the concept of the common good?
• Through the power of singing together in community, can we change the world or at least our little corner here in Cincinnati?
• How have women contributed to the artistic texture, spirituality, empathy, quality and compassion of our daily lives?

One accomplishment that especially stands out for me is the substantial and rich compilation of original choral works commissioned by MUSE over our thirty years. These pieces written specifically to enhance the distinctive sound of women’s voices (in particular the wide range of MUSE, including our amazing low altos) are our special legacy. They are a testament to our belief that diversity is strength.

A stellar array of women have written major works for MUSE in many genres and styles, proof positive that women do compose, women poets do write and composers do set their words. It is our commitment to breathe life into these new works, to sing out what is valuable, spiritually significant, and moving in our every day lives. Women hold up half the sky and MUSE wants to let you know. We pass these compositions on around North America and beyond, to high schools, college and university choruses, and community women’s choruses. This is part and parcel of social change.

By Catherine Roma (Founding Artistic Director)

Photo Credit: Phil Groshong

Abbie Betinis has written a work that meshes with our philosophy beautifully. It is called "In Your Hands"--we recognize and honor the brilliant work Eleanor Roosevelt accomplished on the Declaration of Human Rights in song, the realization and execution of her work lies in our hands, we are the ones we've been waiting for. Roosevelt's words are recounted through a narrator, and the chorus chants like a Greek chorus, "in your hands" "in your hands. Elizabeth Alexander's work "You Were Meant for This" is a virtuoso choral work that incorporates repeated patterns with both altos and sopranos divided into multiple parts, by the end, over eight. The composer spent time working with the poet Teresa Schreiber Werth discussing the meaning of the poem. The work begins with an ostinato figure (a repeating motive) softly in the lowest alto part and culminates, forte with a three octave range in the voice parts. With these premieres we witness the enduring commitment of MUSE to commission works from outstanding women composers, to write significant compositions for women's voices, pieces that will travel to other choruses to perform.

I am ecstatic that one of the first children to sing with us thirty years ago, Mark Porter Webb, has written a piece for the children and grown-up children of MUSE to perform. I am excited to have people I love perform this final MUSE concert with me: Manami White, Tucki Bailey and Liz Wu. I love the strong message, social justice works of Bernice Johnson Reagon and we will sing several. We have a history of working with her and commissioning works by her. Ysaye Maria Barnwell has written many enduring works for MUSE and her visits here to work with the choir always educate and inform us.

We cannot capture in one concert thirty years of music making, but we sing out for justice, we sing for freedom, we sing of inclusion--we reach out to our audience and bring them with us on a musical journey. May it inspire us all to use music to help us build engaged, dynamic and compassionate communities to make the world a better place.

MUSE: MUSE has reached many people over the years through music and social change. Do you feel MUSE's message/philosophy is more understood/accepted now than 30 years ago?
CR: MUSE has been from day-one a great mix of lesbian and straight women working together, singing together, being in each other's lives together. When we started thirty years ago, Cincinnati was not a very accepting environment, it was closed to the idea of inclusion, equality and diversity, and not just related to our LGBTQA lives. There has been a sea-change in thirty years but we are not yet where we want to be. MUSE has been and will continue to be in the forefront of these changes, we are a beacon of hope and part of what social change means to us is, for example, marriage equality. But there is much discrimination, prejudice, and injustice in many communities here in our beloved city. In Cincinnati, people can't seem to comprehend there can be a musically excellent, community choral arts organization that infuses the music we sing with ideas about women's lives, people's lives, justice, equity, peace, inclusion.

MUSE: The choir has done some traveling during your tenure and oversight. What was your favorite travel experience and is there some locale that you hope MUSE might go in the future?
CR: I love to travel and MUSE has been outside of the country: to London and Sheffield, England, to the Dominican Republic, to Quebec, Canada--we've been to Miami, Tampa Bay, Seattle, Denver, San Jose, Madison, Chicago, Kansas City, Grand Rapids, and elsewhere...I love when we go to GALA festivals and when we travel to Sister Singer Festivals. Seattle in 1989 stands out, so does this past summer in Denver. Quebec was memorable as well. I am sad MUSE never traveled to the east. I am from Philly and wanted us to go there to collaborate with Anna Crusis, a choir I founded in 1975.
MUSE: MUSE's concert with activist Cindy Sheehan put MUSE in the spotlight. What was your hope for Cincinnati during that time?
CR: MUSE has taken risks--and I think risk-taking is a good stance. By the time Cindy Sheehan came to Cincinnati, a large portion of the population had begun to turn against the never ending war. We are still staggering from the weight and senselessness of that war. Cincy Sheehan made people wake up. In Cincinnati we were criticized for taking a stand for PEACE! The second night of that spring concert was equally good with Shakila
Ahmad and Saba Chughtai as guests from Muslim Mothers Against Violence. War is an outmoded way to solve our problems.
MUSE: Pairing up with guest artists has been something fun to offer to audiences. What is different for the audience when it's an all-MUSE concert?
CR: All-MUSE programs put on display the brilliance of the choir, the diversity of the sounds we are able to produce, the diversity in styles we sing--it puts the amazing talent of MUSE members front and center...but we do have guests and they add texture and richness to who we are.

MUSE: Is there a piece of music, either commissioned by, or arranged for MUSE, that you think best epitomizes MUSE's vision?
CR: MUSE does not just have one vision, our mission includes many important ideas that characterize who we are and what is important to us. "Let Us Now Hold Hands" is a work I love, "In Your Hands," our new commission this spring, I love this too--you can see that works we bring to life speak about some valuable ideals, they lift us out of our everyday lives and point us in a life-affirming direction to connect us to each other, as women, as people. I guess you might say I am a grass roots person, by this I mean that I want to work as a connector person--if we learn music from other cultures, I want the people from the cultures, the informants of the culture to teach us about the music, if we sing about issues and elements important in ours lives as women, I want to commission works that speak and address from our roots, from our hearts, from our souls. Women as a whole have incredible ideas about love and community, justice and peace-making, many women work at this very elemental level, the level of knowing how to prioritize what is important because they are constantly juggling many, many things in their lives.

MUSE: What word best describes MUSE?
CR: Inclusive

MUSE: After 30 years of Monday night rehearsals, numerous run-outs, and beautiful concerts, is there a great vacation or a new experience in your future?
CR: Places that come to mind? Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, train travel across Canada to Banff, Alaska along the beautiful waterway--dreams...

MUSE: If you could offer the new Artistic Director, Rhonda Juliano one rehearsal tip what would it be?
CR: Be present in the moment, aware of what needs to be accomplished and aware of who is in front of you, the music-makers.

MUSE: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
CR: I cannot comprehend the enormity of the last 30 years, and how much I've gained from the women of MUSE and the music we've made together. I am filled up to over-flowing with joy and gladness, gratitude and love. How can I ever thank MUSE, the greatest love of my life?

Catherine Roma (Founding Artistic Director), interviewed By Maggie Panyko (SII, on leave, MUSE Website Coordinator)

MUSE: What brought you to your accompanist position with MUSE, and in which year did you join?
RK: In 1990 I moved to Cincinnati to be the Director of Education for the Baldwin Piano & Organ Company and by the Spring of 1995 I was looking for a place to perform. I attended a MUSE concert (and may have even handed out programs) in the Spring of 1995 and through a conversation with a 5th section member - they found out I played piano, etc. In the Summer of 1995 the MUSE accompanist, Shirley Helm left and I got a call to come audition. I auditioned for the St. John's (Unitarian Universalist) Music Committee and found out that the two would go hand-in-hand - so there I was at both St. John's and MUSE. Over the years my job has been expanded and I took on the operations of MUSE and became the Associate Director.

MUSE: You have accompanied so many songs over the past 18+ years, what styles of music have you seen grow and diminish in MUSE, and which is your favorite?
RK: I have been introduced to so much music over the past 18 years - I don't even know where to begin! I have nearly 15 binders of music and I would say that there has always been a variety - but we have commissioned new arrangers and composers over the years - so some of the styles have become more contemporary. Accompanying on pieces is, of course, my favorite and the best way for me to be part of the performance and part of the choir. MUSE does a lot of unaccompanied pieces and while I understand that, it is always my favorite to be playing.

MUSE: What is something you will miss about MUSE?
RK: The members, the chaos, and the performances!

MUSE: I heard MUSE gave you a big surprise recently. Can you tell us about it?
RK: Yes – what a hot mess! They commissioned a piece for me called "Famous Phrases" (That Rachel Likes to Say) by Eric Lane Barnes. Apparently they have picked up all my phrases and Rachel-isms and they sent it to Eric and he composed a ragtime style piece for choir and piano – with all the phrases (or most) that I say. I have a lot of communication with the choir through email and they have kept track of the things that I say over and over, and then there is also a place in the piece where I will be playing and they will say even more of them! They also gave me about four cases of Tab - my drink of choice at all occasions - including rehearsals every week.

MUSE: You and Dr. Roma work on a multitude of projects together including MLK Chorale, Wilmington College Chorale, St. John's Music Ministry and MUSE. Can you describe what makes working in conjunction with Cathy Roma different from other conductors?
RK: Oh my - yes, Cathy and I do work together in all things musical - while we are exactly opposite in many ways – we are exactly the same in the way that brings us together and what seems to matter the most to us - music for all and music as the single most powerful source for all things good - social justice - self worth - confidence - creativity . It's social - it's fun and it's our lives! Every life needs music and we are going to see to it that it happens. Frankly, I haven't worked with a lot of other conductors and always find it tricky when I do have to - Cathy and I are able to just do what needs to be done and she is clear in her directing and clear in her instructions of what she wants. I have learned so much repertoire, so much about history and life and current events - it has been continually eye-opening and that is because of how Cathy lives and what she gives to others.

We have just started a new project at Warren Correctional – which is going to be a keyboard program. I was able to get seven keyboards donated by Yamaha and all of the materials from Hal Leonard, and in June we start a 12-week program.

MUSE: If you could choose one word to describe MUSE what would it be?
RK: Inimitable.

MUSE: Is there anything you want to add?
RK: To all of the members and friends of MUSE past and present I would say that this has been quite a journey of 18 years - I would not have ever dreamed of landing in this position and am glad I did. If you believe that everything happens for a reason - like the song "For Good" from Wicked - "I have been changed for good!"

Rachel Kramer (Associate Director/Accompanist), interviewed by Maggie Panyko (SII, on leave, MUSE Website Coordinator)

Catherine Roma, Retiring Founder and Artistic Director of MUSE, has "...long admired Rhonda Juliano's work with the Seattle Women's Chorus and Diverse Harmony. She comes to MUSE with a rich balance of musical gifts and passion for justice. I am thrilled Rhonda will lead MUSE into our fourth decade."

Says Rhonda Juliano about her appointment: "I am delighted to be the next Artistic Director of MUSE, Cincinnati's Women's Choir. What an honor to follow Catherine Roma and to have the opportunity to lead MUSE forward into the next phase of being movers and shakers through quality music! I have already been extended many warm welcome wishes from Cincinnatians. I am both excited and honored for this opportunity and am anxious to experience all that Cincinnati has to offer."

Ms. Juliano will be relocating to Cincinnati in the summer and will begin her duties as the Artistic Director on August 1.

Rhonda Juliano is a Northwest Native and comes from Seattle, Washington where she has resided for the past 22 years. She received her Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Arizona, Tucson, her Bachelor of Music in Education from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, and her School Administration credentials at City University in Bellevue. Rhonda is a member of Chorus America (CA), American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and Music Educators Association (MENC). She has worked in school leadership positions and has taught in the public education arena for over 25 years. She is active as a choral adjudicator and presenter of sacred music at regional conferences.

Most recently Rhonda has held the position of the Assistant Conductor of the Seattle Women's Chorus (a 180+ member community chorus) and has served there since it was founded in 2002. During her time with the Seattle Women's chorus, Rhonda founded and directed a nine voice outreach performance ensemble called Sensible Shoes. Rhonda is the founder of Diverse Harmony, the nation's first gay/straight alliance youth chorus. In addition to her community chorus work, she has served in numerous churches and most recently as the Director of Music at Newport Presbyterian Church in Bellevue, WA.

By Rachel Kramer (Associate Director/MUSE Accompanist)

Angie, a Soprano II, joined MUSE because she wanted to pair singing with social change, and doing this with women was particularly what she needed in 1983. Angie shared many stories, including one where she had an "out of body experience" at a GALA festival while performing the "Azanian Freedom Song." Seeing the choir singing from above, she returned when the audience applauded at the end. She also fondly remembers singing before Desmond Tutu as he spoke at Sawyer Point. Angie recounts, "when MUSE was in its early years, the schedule was slower and the number of women in the choir was fewer than today. Diversity was as important then as it is now, but members were able to socialize more. Musical Excellence has continued to improve as the choir has grown." Angie envisions that MUSE will continue its tradition of bringing beautiful music filled with messages of hope, peace and justice for all to Cincinnati and beyond.

Before Diana (an Alto I), met Cathy Roma and joined MUSE, she had been singing with a political Rock Band called "Band Together". She describes singing with MUSE in a 1200 seat sold-out auditorium at Mt. St. Joseph College with Ronnie Gilbert, and feeling a part of the great progressive music tradition of "The Weavers." Diana loves remembering singing with Holly Near, Bernice Johnson Reagon, and Ysaye Barnwell. She shared that when the smaller choir began, "everyone knew each other better because the choir was smaller and members would often go out to socialize together. The fall Grailville retreat lasted two days: with bonfires, dancing and talent shows with rehearsed acts. The choir felt more of the women's music movement. Although heterosexual women make up the majority of the membership now, at one point it was split evenly between straight and lesbian women, and there were some years where there were more lesbian women than straight women in the choir." Diana believes musically the choir has gotten much better with a variety of voices and music, today. She hopes that the next 30 years of MUSE bring as much joy and growth as the first, and that MUSE continues to nurture and strengthen "this wonderful choral community of outstanding women."

Rhonda (Alto II Music Section Leader) was actively involved in several organizations when she joined MUSE: one working for justice in Central America, one working for world peace, and one working for environmental issues. She felt music would be an important part of this movement, so when she learned about MUSE and its mission she was excited to join. Her most memorable times were "the different run-outs over the years, where MUSE shar(ed) the gift of meaningful music to the people gathered." She especially loves MUSE's visits to the prisons as well as the times when the members join together "to sing songs of support to a member who may be struggling in her life." Rhonda sees the development of the different committees* as a way to make the choir OUR choir. She appreciates the expanded diversity that has happened to the choir as it has grown. When Rhonda joined the choir, she had a toddler and a 4 month old daughter, Christy (now a Soprano I in MUSE) and went on to have two more children. It is hard for her to believe she has been in MUSE for "exactly half of her life". MUSE will not be exactly the same choir going forward, but she is excited to discover what the next years will bring.

MUSE is so grateful for the messages, the history, and the background of the choir that these women share with us, along with Catherine Roma. MUSE is indeed a choir of many voices, coming together with music and the desire to change our world. We thank every member, from those in the choir for 30 years, to our newest members, for bringing so much joy and meaning to every song we sing.

* MUSE has four committees that help govern its internal structure and which also serve to engage the choir's non-singing contributions.

by Debbie Piper (AII/Membership Chairperson)

Photo courtesy of Sarah Gish-Kraus

Owner, Dan Korman, opened his business in 2007, and has since created a place for socially and environmentally mindful Cincinnatians to consistently find eco-friendly goods and yummy vegetarian edibles. Since their grand opening, Park + Vine has expanded to include a lunch/brunch counter and just opened their back patio for their always growing community.

Buy MUSE 30th Anniversary Concert tickets and other items good for your soul and the environment at Park + Vine, 1202 Main Street in Over-the-Rhine. To learn more about ways to get involved with your local bicycling community, vegan/vegetarian eats, and green goods visit www.parkandvine.com.

By Charmaine Moore (SII/MUSE Board Member)

Since the start of the season, our online community has grown 150% to over 636 fans, reaching people from Indonesia to Russia, to Hungary and Belgium. We sure do "like" that! Join our online community: facebook.com/musechoir

By Catherine Clay (SII/MUSE Facebook Administrator)

While the audience was entranced by the acts on stage, our 5th section members flawlessly managed ticket sales for several raffle prizes - gift certificates and packages from the Taft Museum, Pet Wants, delicious cheesecakes, and many more!

Annie Donnellon started off the night with a fun and flirty number while Jill Huppert and her husband burned up the dance floor; we found out what a "u-bass" was as a member of Whitney Barricklow Szabo's band mate masterfully strummed the plastic strands; we stayed grounded in our fundamental social change mission when Diana Porter, Leonard Webb and Paulette Meier led us in "Song for the Climate"; and we were "Feelin' Good" as we swayed to a sultry performance by Susan Russell Devlin.

We ask for your support as the torch is passed from Catherine Roma, the founding artistic director, to a new artistic director Rhonda Juliano. We especially need you during this important transition time.

Please consider making a financial contribution to MUSE, Cincinnati’s very important community arts organization.

• Become a 30th Season Friend of MUSE or give a second donation this season.

• Become a sustaining Friend of MUSE by making a monthly contribution. This will be much appreciated in this period of transition and growth.

• As a Friend of MUSE, you will be one of the first to meet Rhonda Juliano, the new Artistic Director, at a special Friends of MUSE reception. Friends of MUSE will be an important part of our welcoming committee in August.

All donations are tax deductible and all donations are welcome. Please go to our website www.musechoir.org and donate.

By Angie Denov (SII/Financial Committee Member/Founding Mother)

You may not realize that MUSE also has a 5th Section. This important group of volunteers graciously supports the MUSE mission by carrying out vital activities that enable our singers to concentrate on delivering stellar performances.

You'll see our 5th Section volunteers welcoming people to shows, selling tickets, ushering, and managing merchandise sales at the MUSE Marketplace. They’re also handy behind the scenes helping set up and tear down equipment. There is much to do, so to be respectful of our volunteers' time and workload, we try to maintain a full staff.

We are very grateful for our 5th Section volunteers and proud to recognize them in our concert programs. We would like to thank some individuals who graciously stepped in for 5th Section members who couldn't make it to our last concert: Ellie DiLapi; Andrew, Claude, and Michael Frankart; Tricia Freyer; Elisa Ho; Jeremy Jamar; Susan Langmuir; Stan Loeb; Edith Marrero; Candy Ralston; Pam and Jacob Schall; Manuel Susarret; and Jonah Yokoyama. We hope their experience encourages them to sign on as regular 5th Section members!

If you've ever wanted to support the MUSE mission, joining the 5th Section is a great way to do it. It just takes a little of your time to enjoy all the benefits of volunteering with this incredible group. And best of all, you get to hear MUSE music! To learn more, contact us at muse5thsection@gmail.com, or talk to Michael Black in the lobby during intermission or after the show. We hope to see you in the 5th Section!

By Michael Black (5th Section Co-Chair)

All you need to do is sign up online (most Kroger customers aren't currently registered even if you have a Rewards card), so just follow the following easy instructions online (or refer back to the information below) and MUSE will be the beneficiary or your future shopping trips! Happy Shopping, happy MUSE!

a. MUSE's NPO number: 83009
b. Register online at krogercommunityrewards.com
c. Be sure to have your Kroger Plus card handy and register your card with MUSE!
d. If you do not yet have a Kroger Plus card, they are available at the customer service desk at any Kroger.
e. Click on Sign In/Register
f. Most participants are new online customers, so you must click on SIGN UP TODAY in the ‘New Customer?’ box.
g. Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering zip code, clicking on favorite store, entering your email address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and conditions
h. You will then get a message to check your email inbox and click on the link within the body of the email.
i. Click on My Account and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step.
j. Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card number.
k. Update or confirm your information.
l. Enter NPO number (83009) or name of organization (MUSE, Cincinnati's Women's Choir), select organization from list and click on confirm.
m. To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see your organization’s name on the right side of your information page.
n. REMEMBER, purchases will not count for MUSE until after you register your card(s).
o. Do you use your phone number at the register? Call 800-576-4377, select option 4 to get your Kroger Plus card number.
p. Members must swipe their registered Kroger Plus card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Kroger Plus card when shopping for each purchase to count.