Mr. Moore Tribute Concert and Getting Ready for Seven Brides

The Tribute Concert for Mr. Moore was last night. What a wonderful concert and what a wonderful experience. I felt so honored to be a part of it! We had a great turn out for the choir and also a pretty good size audience. My brother Philip even ended up joining us at the last minute. What a talent he has to pick everything up so quick.

The Alumni Choir sang "The Song of Yesterday", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", "I'm Thankful", "The Best of the Beach Boys", A tour Medley which included "The Pink Panther", "The longest Time", "Joyful, Joyful", and "You Raise Me Up". The last song we sang was "Forever in Time". I'll talk more about that last one in a bit.

Mr. Moore and Stacey seemed to really enjoy the concert! Stacey cried a lot, smiled a lot, and even whistled for us. Mr. Moore gave us several standing ovations during the course of the evening. The below Photo was taken by Deborah Peterson's father. I hope they don't mind me using it in my blog. They are beautiful photos.
Lydia's solo number ("I'm thankful") went really, really well. Her voice rang out clear and sweet. She was nervous before we started, but she really kept her cool when she got out there. I am so proud of her! There were so many people who approached her after the concert and told her what a good job she did.

The message of the song is so touching as well. I am so glad my dad shared his original song with us. He played the song on the piano while Lydia sang. The choir backed her up in parts.


After it was over she told me how much she enjoyed it! I think she is going to be in the spotlight much more in the course of her life.
My Dad then played a Solo Piano number. Before he played though he took a few moments to share some thoughts with the audience about Mr. Moore. My dad had the wonderful opportunity to record the Cyprus Choirs for several years and he offered to get copies for past students who have lost their own copies. Do you need a copy of your year in high school choir? Let me know if you do!
My Dad performed a Vince Guaraldi Trio. Stacey Moore told me after the show that she had a chance to her Vince Guaraldi in person when she was in Ballet West and she thought my Dad did a better job than Vince did! What a compliment.

Some of the girls from SHeDAISY performed two special musical numbers. They also shared their fond memories of Kerry Moore. Danny Eggers, Staci Jacobs, Kristi Schroeder and Amber Austin sang "For Good".Rebecca Lemon and Andrew Tuala sang "The Prayer". What voices!The wonderful Peshell Sisters sang "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" and "Sweet Violets".
Before our last choir number Deborah Peterson (our wonderful even organizer) presented Mr. Moore with a special clock and flowers for Stacey. The choir members all pitched in for the clock and the flowers were donated for Stacey. Many generous donations have been made for Kerry Moore. Deborah stated on facebook that the Moore family is no longer worried about how they are going to pay for Kerry's treatments. I am so grateful that people have reached out to Kerry and are helping him and his family. There is a fund set up at Cyprus Credit Union that will be open until July 14, 2008. You can just ask to make a donation to the "Kerry Moore Fund". (The next three photos were taken by Deborah's Father)
For the last number Deborah asked Kerry Moore to direct us. It was the most moving moment and thinking of it brings tears to my eyes. It was so wonderful to see him directing us again. He said he had a lot of fun doing it. I think he especially enjoyed controlling the volume of the group :) What a big smile he had.
After we were done singing he said "Group Hug". Everyone was just standing there, but not me. I pushed myself through everyone straight to Kerry and gave him a big hug! Then everyone else started hugging! I was right in the middle with Kerry and boy there are some tight huggers! I called out at one point "You're crushing him!". It is funny to think of now.
I know this isn't the best picture, but I still had to post it :) I am so thankful for what Kerry Moore did for me. I had him as my choir teacher all three years in high school and he impacted my life so much. I learned really everything I know about singing from him. It is more than just the singing though. He taught me not to give up and to always try my best! I love and admire him so much.

Kerry shared his thoughts with the audience. He said it is the Teacher that really benefits because he is impacted by the thousands of students that he has taught. He said the concert was one of the best moments of his life, besides marrying his dear wife. I have never seen him so moved before. He has made and impact on so many people and you could really see that last night.
It was so great to see Stacey again. I love her energy and her passion! I really admire her as well.

Stephanie Lingwall and I had the chance to sing next to each other in the choir. It was so great to see her again. There were so many other friends as well that I had the opportunity to see again! That was another great thing about this concert. So many of us were able to reunite. I will remember the evening forever. I have ordered an audio CD of the evening that Kyle Woodruf's wife is putting together. I may be able to get a video of it as well. I hope so.
So Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at the Empress Theatre is opening in 12 days. It is getting so close. Here are some pictures from our rehearsal on Saturday.
Here is Adelle holding "Millie's Baby". Doesn't it look life like. It actually looks like a real baby and is the weight of a real baby. It even has eyelashes. Erica Jones who is playing Ruth is letting her use it. It was her grandmother's baby who had Alzheimer's.
Lydia and I hanging out while the cast was doing a scene. Gotta love my Millie dress.

The cast practicing one the funniest scenes in the show. This is when the townspeople come to try and recover their girls, but none of the girls want to go back.

So here is the run down schedule for the show this week.

Monday-7pm to 10 pm-Learn a new dance number "the spring dance". The director informed us that it will be a dream like sequence showing when Millie and Adam met. He said the brides and brothers will be involved, but that it will mostly be Adam and I. He then informed Adam that he will "mostly be standing". It makes me wonder....what am I going to be doing???

Tuesday through Thursday- 7 PM to 10 PM each night- We will be running the show.

Friday - 4th of July- We will be walking in the 4th of July Parade here in Magna. The parade doesn't start until 12:30 so it is going to be HOT!

Saturday - 10 am to possibly 5 PM- Tech Rehearsal.

Hopefully the week will go smoothly. You may not see a lot of posting from me though with how busy we will be. I will still be working my regular hours this week except I have the 4th off because it is a paid holiday. I may be setting out flags with the cub scouts early Friday morning too. We'll just have to see.

Well everyone, have a wonderful week! Remember if you are interested in getting tickets for the musical you can buy them online at the Empress Theatre website. http://www.empresstheatre.com/

Liz