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Visitors are
welcome to experience our community of song! Weekly Rehearsals are Mondays, 7-9 pm.
Please contact webmaster@womansong.org for
details about visiting and/or joining Womansong.
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Upcoming Performances in 2012 |
| May 4-5 (tentative dates) |
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CD Release Celebration
~ songs by Womansong, community sing-along, and the
release of our new CD "I Will Carry You" - 19
songs of healing, transformation, encouragement, comfort,
and inspiration - watch for news! |
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| Fall 2012 |
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25th Anniversary Extravanganza
Concert - It's gonna be very
special! Watch for news! |
Join our
Womansong Fans Group and be notified about our
concerts!
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Past Performances....
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"goodness gracious
that was a soul-stirring, world(s)-changing
incredible beyond-the-beyond
experience last night."
"Womansong demonstrates womanhood at its
finest! I am so impressed with the quality of performance and dedication as
well as the kindness, support, encouragement and love shown to all by this group
of women....
You all are truly demonstrating your highest self!"
"Hearing your concert tonight makes me the happiest I've ever been to be a
woman!"
"...what a wondrous
experience it was for everyone involved, both the audience and the performers!
Every single soul present was touched by the enormity of the event."
"Womansong demonstrates womanhood at its
finest! I am so impressed with the quality of performance and dedication as
well as the kindness, support, encouragement and love shown to all by this group
of women....
You all are truly demonstrating your highest self!"
"Hearing your concert tonight makes me the happiest I've ever been to be a
woman!"
"...what a wondrous
experience it was for everyone involved, both the audience and the performers!
Every single soul present was touched by the enormity of the event."
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Performances in 2011
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| Sat,
Dec 3 |
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Caroling for Dickens in the Village in
Biltmore Village |
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Fri & Sat
Nov 11 & Nov 12
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Womansong
in Concert: "Everything Is Music" at Unity
Center,
2041 Old Fanning Bridge Road, Mills River.
Combining humor, harmony, colorful visuals, and audience
sing-alongs, this concert celebrated the transformational power of music to uplift, unite, and heal our world.
Freedom songs from the African American tradition were featured as well as inspiring
and entertaining songs from "The Sound of Music." The title piece, "Everything is Music,"
is based on words of Rumi and composed by Asheville songwriter Catherine Haas
Riley.
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| Sat,
Aug 13 |
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Recording session for our new
CD "I Will Carry You" at St. Matthias church in
Asheville. The CD will be released in May 2012.
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Sat 7:30 pm & Sun 3:00 pm
June 11-12
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She Sings for
Womansong - Lipinsky Auditorium, UNCA - a showcase of local performers and WOMANSONG:
- Wild Bodema, a high-energy women's drum troupe
- The Sue Ford Trio - Sue’s compelling, original songs with backup harmonies by Womansong's Althea Gonzalez and Susan Taylor.
- Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre
- “Beauty,” a preview of a piece from the full length contemporary ballet “The Birds of
War”
- Now or Never, an ensemble of Womansong
members
- Womansong's seventy singers offer up the group's usual blend of eclectic song selections, with a spotlight on the theme of music in our lives. The lush jazz standard, “Without a Song,” encapsulates that sentiment.
An original song by Womansong member Lytingale, “My Sisters,” celebrates the special bond of friendship among women. Back by popular demand will be “Sing, My Sister, Sing!” a global choir song written by Annie Lennox. Other pieces express humor and harmony, with energetic percussion and audience sing-alongs.
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Performances in 2010
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Saturday
June 19
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SheSings for Womansong
at Lipinsky Auditorium, UNCA
Local
women performers lift their voices, swing the band, and beat their drums! Womansong performed her
usual blend of eclectic song selections, including pieces written by members, and
showcased area women performers: The
Boom Chix, dynamic all women's drum & dance troupe; Honey Holler, all-woman
string band with spirited Appalachian songs and fiddle tunes; the women of Tongue and
Groove, a versatile trio with music from jazz standards to folk rock; Laura Hope-Gill, performance
poet and director of Asheville Wordfest.
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July 2-4
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Sister
Singers Network Festival - Loyola University in Chicago
Womansong performed both alone and with The Righteous Mothers at this national gathering of
women’s choral groups from around the country. Womansong members also attended workshops and
sang in a 400-voice "mass chorus"
that featured a song written by our own Lytingale and directed by our own Debbie
Norden.
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Sun,
Sept 19 |
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Womansong sang in the Sunday evening session of the
Lake
Junaluska Peace Conference, in Stuart Auditorium. This 4-day conference was titled "Peace for the World’s Children."
In our world of war, violence, and poverty, the conference
invited us
to join hands and work to bring peace for the world’s children. Workshops and
keynote speakers -- including children’s activist Dr. Marian Wright Edelman,
Dr. Jeni Stepanek, Bishop Kenneth Carder, Dr. Luther Smith –
prepared us to be strong advocates for children in every arena of our lives.
www.lakejunaluska.com/peace
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Fri. & Sat.
Oct 8-9 |
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Womansong
in Concert at Unity
Center Mills River
"TURN THE WORLD AROUND" ~ a benefit concert for Womansong, Womansong's New Start Program and the Unity Kindness
Fund. This production was inspiring and fun, with toe-tapping music that unites us in community and
featured songs
about the transformative power of healing, friendship, and love such as:
- With Great Love, composed by Lytingale, who is both a Womansong member and Unity’s Minister
of Music. The words of Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa are the inspiration for this anthem,
performed by 400
singers at the National Sister Singer Network Festival in Chicago.
- Heal Me, a prayerful song of affirmation composed by Womansong Artistic Consultant, Sue Ford.
- Sing! a powerful piece written by international super-star Annie Lennox which she has
offered as a global choir piece, bringing awareness to the plight of mother-child transmission of AIDS.
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Sat
Nov 6 |
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Womansong is a co-sponsor of the
AIDS Awareness Walk in downtown Asheville,
organized by the Western N.C. AIDS Project (WNCAP). The walk began at The
Grove House (11 Grove Street). We walked up Patton Avenue to the Vance
Monument for a short ceremony, including a few songs by
Womansong and 2-3 speakers. Not a fundraiser,
the event by
WNCAP seeks to raise awareness
that over 55,000 Americans each year continue to become infected with HIV,
the virus that causes AIDS. For more info, see
www.wncap.org
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Sat
Nov 13
noon |
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Womansong Art and Crafts Fair- Benefit for Womansong
Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville. Large art and crafts fair offering gem-stone jewelry, fabric art, pottery, baked goods, make-your-own beaded necklace, paintings, photography, hand-made cards, books, knit-goods, chair massage, holiday ornaments, hot chai, a large basket to be
raffled, and a variety of original handy-works by local Womansong members and artist friends.
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Performances in 2009 |
Saturday,
Nov 14 |
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Unplugged
and Unhinged: A Womansong Cabaret. Individual Womansong members
took the spotlight in this cabaret of
solos, duets, ensembles and the entire chorus. The program included
Broadway show tunes, blues, jazz, and world music, as well as novelty pieces composed by chorus members, sign language interpretation, drumming, fun choreography, and the
Womansong swing band.
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Friday & Saturday,
Sept 25 & 26 |
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Womansong
in Concert: Music celebrating women. Held at Unity Center,
2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd, Mills River (828)891-8700. An evening of music to inspire, heal, teach, and make you laugh! Womansong will feature the choral version of "Arise," music by the
Righteous Mothers, based on Julia Ward Howe's Mother's Day
Proclamation of 1870. This song and others highlight the power of
women to make changes in our world toward peace and freedom for all.
"With Great Love," an original song by Lytingale, the music
minister of Unity, is based on a quote by Gandhi and affirms the
transforming power of love. Humor and lighthearted fun with props,
PowerPoint, and short skits round out the evening of song.
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Thursday,
April 2 |
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Book Release Performance and Celebration at Jubilee! Community Center, 46 Wall Street, Asheville, (828) 254-6734. This celebration of the release of Sisters Singing will
feature poetry and prose read by local artists, and chants and other songs sung by Womansong.
Art Show of book-related visuals. Co-sponsored by Malaprop's Books.
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Sat,
May 2
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Womansong in Concert for Habitat
for Humanity: Womansong
performed a
full
concert as a benefit for Asheville Area Habitat's 2009 Women Build house.
"Womansong for Women Build" was held at Anderson Auditorium at Montreat Conference Center
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Sat,
May 16
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3rd Annual MayFest
for Mental Health Benefit Concert at All Soul's
Episcopal Church in Biltmore Village (Asheville) The program
included several musical performers along with personal accounts of
experiences with mental illness.
This concert raises money for indigent mental health patients. Funds are
disbursed by social workers to assist needy patients with incidentals that
can help them stabilize after discharge. Last year the proceeds were split
between Copestone and the Western Carolina chapter of NAMI (National
Alliance for Mental Illness), which provides education, advocacy, and
support for the mentally ill and their families.
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Performances in 2008
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Saturday,
March 29 |
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A Confluence of
Remarkable Women at Pack Memorial Library
(Asheville). Womansong opened the event with 1/2 hour
of song. Dr. Gwen McNeill Ashburn of UNC-A highlighted women who helped
form our distinctive Southern Highlands community, with her program:
A Confluence of Remarkable Women.
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Friday & Saturday,
June 13 & 14
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"Power of One Concert" at
Unity Center 7:30pm Music celebrating women, accompanied by piano, guitar, bass, flute,
fiddle, banjo, dulcimer, ukulele, marimba,
drums & other percussion. Featured Wild Mountain Time and our
Swing Band ensemble.
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Sunday,
June 22 |
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Time For Our Power
- Womansong performed
at the Closing of this "Women Bringing Change to
the World" Conference at the Asheville Civic
Center. This 3-day event provided a forum
for women of all ages & backgrounds to
gather, learn, grow and become inspired to personally &
collectively bring powerful, positive and much needed change to
their own lives and to the world.
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Fri
& Sat,
Aug 15
& 16
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"Big Legged Women Concert" Womansong plus
The Righteous
Mothers Womansong was delighted to host and share
the stage with The Righteous Mothers,
who wrote "Big Legged Woman," the song most requested of
Womansong. Act 1 featured Womansong performing a wonderful variety of songs. Act 2
featured
The Righteous Mothers, five women from the Seattle area who
use humor
& original tunes on contemporary topics (such as Supreme Court
decisions, Palm Pilots, ice cream, domestic violence, and
relationships) to reach people young & old, gay & straight,
rich & poor. Eliciting tears and laughter, their
close harmony arrangements are backed by strong, lively, varied
instrumentation.
They have released 6 recordings: Best
of the Righteous Mothers – The first 25 Years (2006), A Million
Things (2001), Pesky Angels (1994), All the Rage: and none of the
calories (1991), Stand Up (1986), The Righteous Mothers (1984).
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Fri,
Oct 3
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Performance for NC Women Lawyers banquet at the Crowne Plaza Resort
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Sat,
Dec 6
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Caroling for Dickens in the Village in
Biltmore Village, 3-5pm.
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Sat,
Dec 13
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Womansong Arts and Crafts
Fair, Noon-6pm at the Unitarian
Universalist Church of Asheville. A variety of arts & crafts created by Womansong
members and friends. Proceeds benefit Womansong's New Start
program & operating budget. |
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Performances in 2007
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Sat,
April 14 |
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Tommie's Miracle - Womansong performed 5 songs in this fundraiser for medical expenses for Tommie
Laughrun, former WS member. Also appearing: The Muses, Chuck
Beattie, WC Reid Center Youth Performers, Christine Kane. Held
at the Jewish Community
Center. www.tommiesmiracle.org
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Fri &
Sat,
June 15 & 16 |
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Concert at Unity: "Love Changes Everything" Premiere of Wild Mountain
Time string band. Accompanied by piano, guitar, bass, flute,
fiddle, banjo, dulcimer, ukulele, marimba,
drums & other percussion. Held at Unity
Center, SOLD OUT both nights!
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Sat,
Aug 18 |
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Lynn & Connie's Commitment Ceremony
- small
group of Womansong members traveled to Kentucky to sing for
this celebration of love.
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Sat,
Aug 25 |
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She Sings for
Womansong Silent
Auction & Concert. Showcase
of women performers: The Buckerettes (cowgirl
swing), Wild Bodema (women drummers), Janet Oliver
(Broadway), plus Womansong. Held at UNCA's Lipinsky Auditorium, this
event raised $14,000 for Womansong & her New Start Program. Our thanks to the
volunteers, performers, donors, buyers, and wonderful audience!
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Friday,
Sept 21 |
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"Serenity in the
Smokies" Retreat" at Kanuga Conference Center,
Hvl.
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Saturday,
Oct 20 |
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"Up On the
Mountain" Benefit Concert for SAFE/Free Rein featuring Wild Mountain Time & guest composer Cathy Riley.
Accompanied by piano, guitar, bass, flute, fiddle, banjo, dulcimer, ukelele, drums & other percussion.
Our first appearance in Brevard, held at the 700-seat Porter Center at Brevard College.
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| Sat,
Dec 1 |
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Caroling for Dickens in the Village in Biltmore Village,
3-5pm |
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Performances in 2006
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Friday,
March 24 |
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Multiple
Sclerosis Society Fundraiser
- Womansong performed 5 songs to open the evening. Dr. Mary Sedgwick
told the inspiring story of her continued battle with MS. Directed by Althea Gonzalez, at A-B Tech.
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Fri & Sat,
May 12 & 13 |
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Spring Concert: "Mama, I Wanna Make Rhythm!" and other songs Mother never taught
me....This SOLD OUT concert included
small
ensemble duos/trios/etc, premieres of
songs by Linda Metzner and by Lytingale, a Powerpoint show, music sign language interpreter Shiner
Antiorio. Accompanied by piano, guitar,
bass, flute, fiddle, ukelele, drums & other percussion.
Directed by Debbie Nordeen, with Althea Gonzalez & Linda Metzner.
Held at Unity Center
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Thursday,
July 20 |
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East Coast SuperSonic Puppet Festival - Womansong opened this tri-regional
Festival
& professional conference for the Puppeteers of America at Diana Wortham Theatre,
directed by
Althea. We were followed by Suspended Animation, Phillip Huber's marionette mastery.
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Friday,
Sept 22 |
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"Serenity in the
Smokies" Retreat for 12-Step Retreat at Kanuga Conference Center, Hendersonville.
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Friday & Saturday,
Nov 17 & 18 |
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"Walking Among You" -
Womansong's 20th Anniversary Concert! An extravaganza
with the Womansong Percussion Ensemble led by Sue Ford,
Yemaya puppets & dancers, music sign language interpreter Shiner
Antiorio, dancers, and a 100-voice Reunion Choir. New songs, songs from our CDs, original
songs by Womansong members, and
songs from our very first season! Accompanied
by piano, flutes, violin, ukeleles, bass, drum set, frame drums & other
percussion, and a Powerpoint show. Directed by Debbie Nordeen, with Assistant Director Althea Gonzales
& Guest
Director Linda Metzner (WS founder). A DVD is available of this SOLD OUT
concert at the Diana Wortham
Theater.
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| Sat,
Dec 2 |
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Caroling for Dickens in the Village in
Biltmore Village |
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Performances in 2005
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Saturday,
Feb 19 |
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Tsunami
Relief Benefit Concert - Performances by Peggy Seeger, David
Holt, Womansong, Mike Stevens & Raymond McClain, and others. Held at the Unitarian
Universalist Church.
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Thurs,
March 31 |
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Women in the
Arts Celebration at Blue Ridge Community
College. Womansong, plus Sue Ford & The Extremes;
Performance Piece of Eskimo Women's writings compiled by Winnie
& Holly with music by Cathy Riley; Poetry from our new 'Chap' book; Frame Drum trio.
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Fri,
April 15 |
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CD Release Party & Concert
- Songs from Womansong's new CD: "Everybody Got Her Own",
plus Sue Ford & the Extremes; poetry from our new Chap Book, food & fun!
Held at
Jubilee! in Asheville.
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Fri
& Sat,
June 17 & 18 |
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"Why
Walk When You Can Fly" Concert of affirmation.
Directed by Debbie
Nordeen, highlights included the dynamic Womansong Percussion Ensemble led by Sue Ford, life-size puppets
designed by Lisa Sturz, original
poetry from our new book, Microcosm - Other Voices of
Womansong, and a Powerpoint show. With songs from the newly released CD,
Everybody Got Her Own, this concert also debuted original compositions by Womansong members.
Held at Unity Center.
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| Fri, Oct 21 |
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Silent Auction & "She Sings for Womansong" Concert -
Showcase of women performers:
The Buckerettes (cowgirl swing trio); Regina Loveday (jazz
vocalist);
The All-Girl Staff (a cappella doo-wop from UNC-A); Mary Davis
(singer/songwriter); and
Womansong. This concert & silent auction raised $7,000+ for Womansong
& her New Start
Fund. Womansong was presented with a special Kindness Award
for our many years of giving to our community.
Held at
the Unitarian Universalist
Church.
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| Sat, Dec 3 |
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Caroling at Grove Arcade &
for Interlace
fundraiser: Shop
For Change |
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Performances
in 2004
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| Sat,
April 3 |
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Performance at
Asheville Birthing
Conference at A-B Tech
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| Fri,
June 18 |
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Concert: "Womansong:
Spring Into Summer" at Unity Center
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Thurs,
July 29 |
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Womansong
at Puppets on the Ridge Festival:
Asheville Puppetry Alliance
Festival directed by Womansong's Lisa Sturz
of Red Herring Puppets. Click for PHOTOS
of our wonderful Yemaya puppets! At
Diana Wortham Theater
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| Fri,
Aug 6 |
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Silent Auction & Community Sing-along Concert
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Fri &
Sat,
Oct 22 & 23
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"Womansong:
On the Move" - Flood Relief Benefit Concert.
Celebrating the passages women make in life's journey. Included a Frame Drum group, dance, belly-dancer, giant Yemaya
puppets. At Unitarian-Universalist Church.
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Fri & Sat,
Nov 5 & 6 |
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Recording
our CD, "Everybody Got Her Own" at
Unity Center. The CD was released in April 2005
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Sat, Dec 4 |
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Caroling
for Interlace
fundraiser at Grove Arcade & downtown stores |
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