SUMMER 2011

Saint Louis Osuwa Taiko

JAPAN BENEFIT RAISES $6,000+ TO BENEFIT THE RELIEF EFFORT

he Chapels Benefit for Japan concert on Monday, April 4, 2011 raised over $6,000 to support the Red Cross in its relief efforts following the earthquakes and tsunami that devastated Japans Pacific coast. Musicians included The Trombones of The St. Louis Symphony, Arianna String Quartet, Erin Bode, Saint Louis Osuwa Taiko, Farshid Etniko, Ralph Butler, Audra Angelique, Electro Funk Assembly and Treble Clef Palette. Together with THE CHAPEL, all musicians donated their time and services, as did the numerous businesses and organizations who contributed to the silent auction. FROM THE BLUES CITY REVIEW: Simply put, last nights Japan Benefit Concert at THE CHAPEL was a very special evening of music. St. Louis musicians came together from all genres and performance styles to collaborate

on a night of music for a good cause. It was standing room only in THE CHAPEL on Alexander but somehow I wasnt thinking about my feet. Hats off to St. Louis Symphony violinist Asako Kuboki for bringing an exceptional group of musicians together to celebrate giving to those in need in Japan. I will admit to being about 45 minutes late, but I stayed till the end. The event went a bit longer, but the house was accommodating as were the artists. If you, like me, were not aware of THE CHAPEL, it is a not-for-profit venue supporting musicians and theater. Services are provided free of charge to artists and musicians. The room that the performance was in was well suited for music and seemed to enhance the musics grandness. The performances ranged from chamber music to electronica enhanced funk, and it all sounded good in the theater of THE CHAPEL.

Diverse would be an understatement if used to describe the list of artists, their instruments and styles of music shared. Two of the more interesting instruments were the huge hanging Takio drum, sometimes called a Tsuri-Daiko or an odaiko which was part of a smaller Saint Louis Osuwa Taiko ensemble and the Imratgitar, a hybrid sitar-guitar that Todd Mosby used to play the house into a world away. Blues City Review

Erin Bode

National Public Radios WKMU Cityscape Segment C Fri Apr 8: http://www.stlpublicradio.org/programs/city scape/archivedetail.php?date='2011-04-08' A conversation with violinist Asako Kuboki and vocalist Erin Bode about THE CHAPELs concert benefiting victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

SPRING 11 IN REVIEW
Friday January 14 Chamber Project St. Louis Saturday March 26 Chamber Project St. Louis INTIMATE SONGS Saturday March 18 Equinox Chamber Players EQUINOX SMILES The Equinox Chamber Players are so grateful to you for allowing us to use the beautiful space in THE CHAPEL for our fundraiser. The event Equinox Smiles was truly successful and looked beautiful. On behalf of Equinox and all those we serve, Thank You!! Carole, Equinox

Javier Mendoza

Friday February 18 @ THE CHAPEL AWAKE, MY SOUL: THE STORY OF THE SACRED HARP Movie, Q&A with the director & singing demonstration The St. Louis Shape Note Singers

Tuesday March 29 Thursday, March 31 Bi-Frost Arts Conference MUSIC, LITURGY & SPACE

Saturday March 12 Javier Mendoza in Concert A TRIBUTE FOR LILY

Wednesday May 11 Nomin Zolzaya, Mongolian Cellist

SUMMER 11 IN PREVIEW
Wednesdays June 15, 29, July 13, 27, 7 pm, Free

Reformed University Fellowship METRO ST. LOUIS SUMMER 2011

Saturday May 14, 6 10 pm, Free

Gallery Opening Reception Haiku + photography by Neil E. Das 17 SYLLABLES: A THOUSAND WORDS

Sunday May 29, 5 pm & 7pm , $10

Saint Louis City Opera MENOTTI "THE TELEPHONE"

St. Louis City Opera presents Gian Carlo Menotti's The Telephone. In a world where technology facilitates communication and thus becomes essential to life, Menotti explores what happens when our ability to build relationships with those who are physically far away interferes with our ability to build relationships with those standing in front of us. Sound familiar? His solution to this problem is surprisingly simple. This updated version of Ben's proposal to Lucy features local artists Stephanie Ball and Tom Sitzler, with Jason Oestenstad on piano. Allyson Ditchey directs. One act. 35 minutes.

Hafez

Saturday June 18 / Sunday June 19 (SOLD OUT)

Thursday Jun 9, 8 pm , $10

Iranian Cultural Society of the Midwest POETRY OF HAFEZ & PERSIAN FOLK MUSIC in Farsi with English translation
Were pleased to be able to support the local Iranian community th is showcasing this presentation of Hafez, Irans 14 century national poet, the Poet of Wine quoted by every Persian, whether in Iran or abroad. Buried in the Iranian city of Shiraz, this event includes the wine (often illegal in todays Iran) that bears the citys name. Sponsored with the Iranian Cultural Society.

Chamber Project AUDIENCE CHOICE

Saturday June 11, 8 PM , $10

The Crusell Quartet

INTRODUCING JASON SCHAFER

The Chapels New Executive Director

Friday June 24, 8 pm

JACOB DETERING IN CONCERT

Jason & Mandy Schafer

At its Tuesday, May 10 meeting, the Session of Memorial Presbyterian welcomed THE CHAPELs new Executive Director, Mr. Jason Schafer. Jason and Mandy Schafer were married last May, moved to St. Louis in July, and started attending Memorials Saturday Service in August. Mandy works as an ESL teacher at a public elementary charter school in South City and Jason will attend Covenant Theological Seminary in pursuit of a Masters of Divinity starting August 2011. Jason grew up near San Francisco, California, and Mandy is from a small town in central Nebraska. Mandy grew up Lutheran (ELCA) and Jason grew up non-denominational, but both came to faith during their senior years of high school. Both were active in the Christian collegiate ministry The Navigators, and they met through common friends while Mandy was serving with The Navigators in Japan. Jason volunteers regularly with the ISI ministry at UMSL led by Mort Whitman as well as at BicycleWORKS, a not-for-profit organization serving at-risk kids in South City. In his spare time Jason enjoys cycling, backpacking and reading. Jason and Mandy share interests in sustainability, simplicity, missions, missional living, and befriending and showing hospitality to the foreigner. Together, Mandy and Jason enjoy going on walks or hikes, relaxing in local coffee shops, exploring new parts of Saint Louis and getting to know new people. Since coming to Memorial, they have caught the vision for renewing the city and are eager to play their part. In the long term, Jason would like to do vocational ministry either as a pastor, campus minister or missionary. Jason is already working with outgoing Interim Director Greg Johnson to develop a team: a Coordinator for Classical Music, an Indie/Rock Venue Coordinator, a Gallery Curator, a Managing Director and more. If youre interested in learning how you might serve, Jason wants to talk to you. You can now email him at chapelvenue@gmail.com. Unless otherwise noted, tickets are available at the door.

Saturday July 23, 8 pm

UNION TREE REVIEW with Boy Without God & Dots Not Feathers

Friday August 5, 6 10 pm (check website)

DIONNA RAEDEKE IN CONCERT & Gallery Opening Reception

www.chapelvenue.com
THE CHAPEL is a ministry of welcome and hospitality committed to helping tear down the wall of suspicion between the church and the arts and music communities. THE CHAPEL is a ministry of Memorial Presbyterian Church. Artists are never charged; they always take home the full door (cover) charge, and the drinks are always free.