we are also painfully aware of every riser creak, water bottle expansion pop, bird chirp, car rumble, cow moo, stomach growl...you get the idea. More of our takes are spoiled by incidental noises than by musical mistakes! It often requires four or five tries to get a good take. The heat and humidity are also factors that play on our energy level during sessions, as the air conditioning is too noisy to run during takes. (The choir that sweats together, sticks together...quite literally!)

There is complete silence as Cathy holds her arms in readiness to begin a song. The opening notes ring out with confidence and accuracy (whew) and we are entirely focused on producing our highest level of performance (while holding completely still to avoid creaks). After the final notes, Cathy again stands poised with arms raised to hold our silence for a few more long, agonizing seconds. All eyes cut back to Tucki, our producer. She gives us a thumbs up!

The choir lets out a collective sigh of relief, cheers, and collapses in exhaustion. We take a few moments and then regroup to begin the next song.

And so it goes for the better part of three days.

All this began about a year ago when we decided it was time to make a new recording. Maria Kitsinis (SII, and at that time Administrative Coordinator) bravely accepted the mission of compiling an exhaustive list of all the songs MUSE has performed in the years since our last recording sessions, which occurred in March 2005.

The Musical Excellence Circle (Artistic Director, Assistant Director, Music Section Leaders and other interested parties) met often over the summer to pore over the pages and pages of this list, discussing the merits of each piece. Besides the obvious consideration of how well we and our audiences like a particular piece, we were also striving to select music that offers a wide range of styles, interesting instrumentation, and showcases original compositions and arrangements commissioned by MUSE.

After whittling the list down to a manageable number that we felt represented our best work, the entire membership of the choir was surveyed to help make "final" selections. We eventually had a list of about 16 or 17 pieces...quite a respectable collection for a CD. But then, we had new repertoire this year that was too good to leave off...and there were a couple of pieces that our artistic director felt it was necessary to include...until we finally gave our lawyer a list of 22 pieces to begin to work on gaining legal permission to record. Wow! Twenty-two songs! Whew. Glad that's done. It was quite a challenge to create that list.

What? You say there's more to do?

We knew that in order to keep the choir members engaged in the process, we would have to work our CD repertoire into our concerts for the 2009-2010 season. Our discussions as we crafted concert programs included many creative answers to the question, "How does that song work into this theme?"

Thanks to the insightful introductions written by various choir members, many connections were made that might not have been immediately obvious, otherwise. Thus, we were able to work on our CD repertoire and concert programs simultaneously throughout most of our season, so that as a choir we were feeling well-prepared as we headed into the recording sessions.

After three days that include about 18 hours of time together to capture the choral portion of the process, the choir waits breathlessly while Cathy listens to our last take of our final song. She removes her headset, puts on a huge smile and gives us a double thumbs up! The women of MUSE spontaneously break out in a rousing rendition of "Amen! Amen! Amen, amen, amen!"

While most of us will go our various ways to recuperate, a few hardy souls begin preparing for a full week of work in the studio. There are many percussion tracks to be added, a few solo lines to record and many hours of listening to be done before the final editing of our new CD, "We Who Make Our Meaning Clear". Outside the studio, another ambitious group will be gathering information, writing and editing the liner notes. The projected release date of August 1, no longer sounds too far away, when I consider all the work that remains to be done.

At the end of each day of recording, my body, feet and vocal chords are all feeling the strain. My heart and mind are full of inspiration, love and gratitude for the opportunity to participate in this project with the most amazing and beautiful group of women I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. I can not wait to hold the final product in my hands and share it with the world!

See Photos of the Recording Sessions Here!

-Naomi Goertz, SI Music Section Leader

Be a part of the celebration! MUSE Cincinnati's Women's Choir is looking for energetic, enthusiastic voices to add to the choir.

On Saturday, August 28th, 2010, auditions will be held at our rehearsal home, St. John's Unitarian Universalist Church - 320 Resor Ave, Cincinnati, OH (Clifton) from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. Click here for the audition form.

MUSE is dedicated to musical excellence and social change. We are women of diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives awakening awareness with our voices. Your talent, enthusiasm and presence are welcome!

Come harmonize for peace and justice. Join MUSE for a season of fun, friends and most of all music!

MUSE's own Angie Denov has graciously offered up her College Hill homestead as the location. Choir members are donating many fantastic items, along with their time and muscle-power to make this event a fundraising success.

If you have items you would like to donate, please contact any choir member, or Sarah Luken at 513-304-8931, or sarah.wichman@gmail.com. Donations are tax deductible and proceeds will be shared by CMC and MUSE. Thanks in advance from your event chairs: Marti Mohar, Carlos Vega and Sarah Luken. Hope to see you on June 26!

Where: 1225 North Bend Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45224
When: Saturday, June 26, 2010
Time: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

We are in the final stages of the process now and will be going to press this summer. Watch your inbox this fall for an announcement about the release! Look forward to a diverse collection of recipes in musically-themed categories and find out what's cookin' in the kitchens of your favorite MUSE and CMC members!

Photo credit Ana Ramirez-Luhrs

And there we were, laboring to bring a CD to birth - with the same feelings I have had or seen attending so many births in my life - struggle, expectant breath-holding, sighs of relief and shouts of joy. (Although never at a birth have we been bothered by squeaky risers)

Being in MUSE was a bit like being pregnant for me- the initial thrill of making the audition like my first positive pregnancy test (really? Me?) and our first concert like an ultrasound glimpse of my new life as a part of MUSE. I could go on with the analogy- but I need to also mention what my sisters have meant to me. I love the company of women, and you are an incredible group!

I was nervous about fitting in, was I good enough, would my mistakes stand out? But I was assigned my buddy Julie who became my friend, and I was supported and encouraged by my AI (the saucy section) sisters who are so awesomely talented.

More than just the music, though, I am buoyed by your passion for social justice. Each time someone stands up to mention what they are involved in, and how we can help, I am inspired again.

Highlights for me were the Marysville prison trip, singing in support of Sister Louise Akers at the Violence Against Women National Conference, and the Take Back the Night march, though there were so many more!

Shortly after joining MUSE I had a huge grant rejected and cried for about a week. I felt like quitting this research field where I dream of improving the reproductive health of minority women. But I began humming to myself- "sisters you keep me fighting" and buckled down to write another grant. I know every Monday night I can rest in your presence, the beauty of your sound, and the grace of your friendship. Thanks for letting me in!

Jill Huppert - AI (M.D., M.P.H.)
Photo credit - HopkinsMedicine.org

It came into my life at a time when I needed the support of a community of independent, strong, caring women. It came into my life at a time when I needed a way to reconnect with myself, with the things that were important to me, but had fallen by the wayside. It came into my life at a time when I needed to be reminded that I am really blessed.

The women in MUSE have been a strength and inspiration to me. I know that no matter what I am dealing with or going through, my MUSE sisters will be there with a hug to give me strength, a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen, a joke to make me laugh, chocolate (which makes ANYTHING better!), a tissue to wipe away my tears, a song to help me celebrate, or duct tape and a trash bag to fix a broken car window! Each of them has been an example to me, helping me to become a better person.

Musical expression was an important part of my life for years. It was part of what made me who I was then, and who I am today. Sadly, I let that slip away for far too long. Singing with MUSE has reawakened that passion in me, has reminded me of who I am and who I want to be. And the things we sing, the people and events we perform for, the mission behind MUSE only add to that passion for me.

Those things remind me that there is injustice in our world, in our nation, in our communities. It is too easy to spend time moping and whining about what is wrong with your life, what you don't have, and miss the fact that you are truly blessed. And so those things remind me that it is my responsibility to use the blessings in my life...my time, my talent, my finances...to work to make change where injustice is found.

I am so grateful to and for every single woman in MUSE. From the bottom of my heart, I thank them all, and I thank every person out there who supports MUSE.

Ruth Dobyns - SI

participating in a group rap (whoa was that a lot of words and a fun new challenge) and singing with a small group. Admittedly nervous, although a seasoned performer in my younger years, I have reverted to my own little safe shell in life. I was thankfully awarded one of the solos for this concert and the anxiety was rising, but come concert time, still I rose.

Being in the midst of the exciting performance air I just wanted what in my mind was sounding good, to actually flow through my vocal chords and come out to entertain the audience and enlighten them. It's almost surreal in the moment, but the gratitude of our MUSE fans after the concert and delightful comments made it all worth it and let me know that I still had "it." One woman commented that when I stepped up to the microphone she wasn't sure what was going to come out, but when I opened my mouth she was amazed and thought it was an awesome performance. It was pleasing to hear that because sometimes I feel that way as well; I know what I have inside, but I'm not sure what will come out! Especially in the moment of such meaningful pieces as spirituals with deep-rooted and personal meanings, I just wanted to do God and MUSE proud.

We always have such a supportive and diverse audience that it is a pleasure to perform for them, and under the direction of Cathy, we can't go wrong. She is an amazing woman alone, but as a conductor she is where we need her in so many different places at once. When she is steering the ship I know we will sail on successfully. She not only does an effective job of conducting the music, but she makes us feel it, understand it, and actually MAKE music...not just sing notes on a page. I think this is a major part of the success of MUSE and what makes our audiences happy and come back for more. They feel the music and are engaged, and truly enlightened, and entertained.

If you weren't there, you missed another energy-filled special MUSE concert. Linda Tillery is an entertainment persona in her own league. Make sure you tune in for any upcoming MUSE events and don't miss our new CD that we will soon be recording. That way you can rise with us whenever you feel like being MUSE-tained!

Stacey Skubiszewski - SII

The statement has evolved with a commitment to embrace the heart of MUSE (the 4 circles - Musical Excellence, Social Change, Operations and Membership) and to clearly state how the MUSE Board can support and nourish the principles of the choir.

The MUSE Board meets monthly and gets updates from the facilitators of the four circles, as well as financial reports and updates on the issues of the current MUSE season.

MUSE Board terms are for two years and since some members cycle off the board in August, we will be taking on new members. If you are interested in supporting MUSE in this capacity, please fill out a nomination form (see link below) and send it to Rachel Kramer (muse@musechoir.org.)

One recent MUSE Board-Sponsored event that proved to be very fruitful was the pre-concert reception held at Marty's Hops and Vines on Saturday, May 15th, 2010. Friends of MUSE (FOM) gathered for a drink before the concert.

Linda Tillery was gracious enough to come sit and chat a while with our donors/supporters. One dollar was contributed to MUSE from every drink purchased. Friends of MUSE heard about the new CD and how to sponsor songs on the CD. This is the kind of event that the Board would like to do more often in the future - possibly for the upcoming CD release in November, 2010.

The Board will continue to work on MUSE Choir's behalf through out the summer, taking July off, and having an extended meeting on Sunday, August 22, 2010, to strategize for the upcoming season. New Board members will be welcomed in September.

MUSE/CMC Mega Yard Sale Fundraiser
Get your DEAL on!
Saturday, June 26, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
College Hill, OH

Sister Singers
Thursday-Monday, July 1-5, 2010
Chicago, IL
We join our singing sisters for an Independence Weekend in Chicago. This 10th anniversary festival brings together women from as far as Juneau, Tampa, Philly, San Diego, Maine, and Portland.

August Auditions
Saturday, August 28, 2010, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Clifton, OH
Bring your voice and your zest for great singing to this annual event. Click here to reserve your audition space.