A concert creates laughter, thought and sometimes tears. It can change lives and impact audiences. It can even affect those of us who sing those powerful lyrics.

Read on to see how this Spring 2009 concert, Gracias A La Vida - We Live, We Learn, affected some members of the choir:

"Music speaks to people in ways words alone cannot"

Music speaks to people in ways words alone cannot. I always believed this to be true, but I saw first-hand exactly what music can do on the second day of our 2009 Spring Concert, Gracias A La Vida: We Live, We Learn. My mother and her friend, my aunt and uncle, and my wife, were in the audience that day.

I was nervous, not just because it was only my second “real” performance with MUSE (I’m the newest Alto II), but because I was not sure if my aunt and uncle would still be speaking to me after hearing several of the more liberal songs on the program! They are conservative fundamentalists from a small town in north-central Idaho and had come to Cincinnati to visit my mother. They carefully planned their visit in order to avoid being here for my wedding to Marianna, my partner of six years, just three weeks earlier…a fact they had no qualms sharing with our biggest supporter, my mother. Four years ago, when I brought Marianna to my home town in Idaho to meet my family, my aunt and uncle were busy with various church activities and “other commitments” every day of our visit and could not make time to see us so I wasn’t surprised when they declined our wedding invitation.

During our performance I was filled with nervous anticipation, knowing that we would soon be singing Holly Near’s, Simply Love – a powerful song about two women sharing life and love. The song was accompanied by a deeply personal introduction by two MUSE members, one of whom, like me, had recently married her same-sex partner. With the Alto II’s taking a rare lead part in this arrangement, I focused on Cathy, our director. As we began to sing, I glanced at my aunt and uncle who were sitting very still. I couldn’t read their expressions. I changed my focus to my new wife who was listening intently with tears in her eyes. As we sang I could feel the emotion of the words and harmonies swell and fill the choir and audience alike. During the final few measures, I looked outward at my family. My aunt, with tears in her eyes, was clutching my mother’s hand. My uncle’s expression had softened. They made eye contact with me…and smiled.

After the performance my wife and I were invited to dinner with them, but first they wanted to come over and see our home. My aunt even looked at our wedding pictures. Nothing was said about the song, no apologies were made, but it was clear they had both been changed. That night we said goodbye to my aunt and uncle. There were smiles, hugs, exchanges of email addresses and phone numbers, and promises to stay in touch.

I feel blessed and honored to be a part of MUSE, such an amazing, hard-working, beautiful, diverse, and talented group of women. We as MUSE members are lucky to be part of something so much bigger than ourselves. Thank you women of MUSE, thank you Cathy, and Gracias A La Vida! At least one family was personally touched by MUSE’s commitment to musical excellence and social change this season - mine.

Kathy Zdinak, AII

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I am new to MUSE. I used to love to sing, but work and parenting got in the way. This year, I finally decided that it was time to rediscover my love for music -- as a participant, and not just in the audience!

I have many happy memories from my first year singing with the choir. But my biggest joy comes from watching my children's faces as I am up singing at the concerts. They are no longer children. My daughter is 15. My son will be 14 very soon. They are full of the joys of youth, and rarely stop for a minute between all their activities. They both share my love for music, which brings me much happiness. I am so very glad that there are opportunities like MUSE in Cincinnati for them to see that music can be entertaining, but can also share an important message about unconditional love and support. For everyone. We are women with different backgrounds, interests and passions. And we sing in support of those who may not find the support and encouragement they need in a city like Cincinnati. My wish is that the youth of today hear, and love, both our message and our music. I asked my two children to come to the Winter Concert in November. They both made sure (without my asking) that their calendars were free for the Spring Concert, and even brought along a friend.

Kate Dennis, AI