| Dear Friends: | January 2008 |
Happy 2008 to all! I hope that you had a great Holiday season. The year 2007 was event-full for us. We bade farewell to some very dear friends. We also had our Pentagon concert broadcast on a number of PBS stations. We all but gave up on our annual concert for the US Congress because of scheduling problems – only to have it gloriously resurrected at the National Shrine as a 9/11 Memorial. David Beamer, father of Todd Beamer of “Let’s Roll” posthumous fame, attended with many Flight 93 families. All were evidently moved by the concert. Our Veterans Day concert in Denver was outstanding as well. The only challenge was that I had to guard Miss America, along with our Sopranos and Altos from the unrelenting advances of the 95-years young Art Linkletter – don’t think I was successful. Everybody agreed that he was a huge hit, though! See photo below.
Art Linkletter and Miss America Rebecca King Dreman hosted the Denver Concert (Photo: Jack Pelon)
Our Mia Italia was fabulous.
Delectable memories are: Michelangelo’s sculptures in Florence, and jointly
singing Verdi’s Va Pensiero with the Italian Polifonico Choir of Rome. The
Vatican and the Papal audience. The umpteen-course dinners, serenaded by
operatic-caliber waiters. The Coliseum, Pompeii, Florence, Venice and the
Gondolas. And a thousand other memories. Yes, plus the warm and wondrous spirit
of fellowship and friendship that we enjoyed. The only thing we truly missed was
our friends who did not travel on this year. I hope that you all will join us in
2008. Cindy Hoppe provided a beautiful
collection of tour photos -- thank you Cindy! To view Cindy’s photos go to
http://www2.snapfish.com/share/p=310251196035725472/l=332077193/g=37886871/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB.
You will need to set up an account (free) to view them.
During the year, we bade farewell to Ken Brownley
(Tenor), Jay Devore (Bass), Chaplain Joseph Hilton (Tenor), Bernie Williams
(Horn), and VA-NMMG’s Mother Hen, Nevart Haley. Incidentally, I would be remiss
if I failed to mention the extremely generous donations of Nevart’s children Don
Haley and Cindy Hoppe of $5,000 each – $10,000 total – to the Group, in Nevart’s
memory. As I mentioned elsewhere, these donations were exquisitely timely, since
our income from the overseas trip this year was low because of a small turnout
and also the strong Euro. I take this opportunity to thank each and every one of
you who contributes to the Group, regardless of the size of your contribution.
Bob Wisleder, our Treasurer Extraordinaire, explained at the Town Hall Meeting
in Denver how the registration fees do not adequately cover our already very low
administrative expenses. Therefore, these freewill contributions are life blood
for our budget.
Now 2008 dawns upon us with a bright, brilliant crimson horizon. Our
Spring Concert for the US Congress is on Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at the
Basilica of the National Shrine of Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.
It will be in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the American College of
Physicians. It is a Veterans and Military Appreciation Concert, and we want to
invite Cabinet secretaries and the President. Armed Forces and Memorial Days
will be celebrated. Theme is "Healing for the Nations".
In addition to national healing, we are expanding the theme to an international
level and it looks like several Ambassadors of the countries involved in the
Annapolis Middle East Peace Conference will participate. Vatican Ambassador
Archbishop Pietro Sambi has graciously agreed to chair the Honorary Committee.
Rehearsals start Saturday, May 10, 2008. Repertoire to follow.
MAY HOTEL. Is the
Hilton Crystal City at Reagan National Airport, Arlington, VA. Because
it is high season, however, our rate is not cheap: $179/room double occupancy
plus tax. In contrast, regular refundable rate is $279. The Hilton offers a
complimentary shuttle from Reagan National Airport. Reservations are
open now: Call 1-800-HILTONS (1-800-445-8667) and identify yourself as
a member of VA-National Medical Musical Group. For online reservations:
www.crystalcitynationalairport.hilton.com, use MMG
as Group/Convention Code. Our rate applies May 9 through 16, 2008.
Reservations deadline is April 9 but the rooms fly fast – so make your
reservation now! Once our room block is filled, the rate reverts to the
normal non-discounted rate. Remember, you must first be duly registered with
VA-NMMG in order to qualify. See “VA-NMMG Registration” below.
MAY REHEARSAL SCHEDULE.
SATURDAY, MAY 10: 2:00 – 5:00; 7:00 - 10:00 pm
at the Hilton Crystal City, 2399 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA, Tel:
703-418-6800. Close to the Crystal City Metro Stop on the Blue/Yellow line. Our
rate for parking at the Hilton is $9.00/day, a 50% discount.
SUNDAY, MAY 11: 2:00
- 5:00 pm and 7:00 - 10:00 pm at the Hilton.
MONDAY, MAY 12: 7:00
- 10:00 pm at the Hilton.
TUESDAY, MAY 13:
7:00 pm. Dress Rehearsal (casual dress) at the Basilica of the
National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave., NE,
Washington, DC, 202-526-8300,
www.nationalshrine.com. Free parking at the Basilica, or you may
use our group bus transportation from the Hilton departing at 5:30 pm (Sorry,
there is a charge! See below). If you wish to use Subway Metro transportation to
the Basilica, the stop is Brookland-Catholic University on the Red line.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14:
7:00 pm PRECONCERT, and 8:00 pm CONCERT at the
National Shrine. Buses depart the hotel 5:30 pm. Bus charge: $20 – it
is subsidized by VA-NMMG. This charge covers all four trips Tuesday and
Wednesday. Post Concert Banquet: To be announced.
NOVEMBER 2008. Our 2008
Veterans Day Concert is tentatively planned again in Denver for November 2,
2008. The overseas trip is to Croatia and Slovenia, with an optional extension
to Montenegro. Elizabeth Nunan is working hard on it, with help from several of
you. More info to follow.
PHOTOS, VIDEOS. We hope to
have the tapes of the National Shrine and the Denver Concerts postproduced and
possibly broadcast early in the year. Photos and videos from the National Shrine
and Denver concerts are now posted at www.medicalmusical.org, click on “Photos”,
“Videos”.
More Denver photos will be posted soon. As I mentioned, Mia Italia pictures
courtesy of Cynthia Hoppe are viewable at
http://www2.snapfish.com/share/p=310251196035725472/l=332077193/g=37886871/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB.
2008 REGISTRATIONS.
I invite you to register for the 2008 season. Registrations are good
for one calendar year, and you must be duly registered in order to qualify for
the concerts, hotels, trips, etc. As you probably know, we have kept our
registration fee low at $75.00 for lo these many years despite inflation and
rapidly escalating expenses. However, I would encourage all to continue to be as
generous as you can – and have been – in contributing to VA-NMMG, over and above
that Registration fee. Contributions are tax deductible – see the updated
categories on the Registration Form. For registrations, you may use the
attached form or else go to our secure site www.medicalmusical.org, using credit
card. Click on “Join”
and “Donate”.
You may also print the form posted on the website and mail it with your check to
VA-NMMG, 1627 Preston Road, Alexandria, VA 22302. Please do not use the
Washington, DC, address.
Incidentally, if you wish to receive our 2007 financial statement, please
send a message to our Treasurer, Bob Wisleder (rwisleder42@comcast.net),
or to VA-NMMG at
vanmmg@hotmail.com. It will be available early in the year.
Also, if you have friends or family who are interested in making contributions
to a worthy cause, please enlist them as supporters of VA-NMMG!
I sincerely hope that you will join us as we confidently and
joyfully waltz into the 2008 sunrise! Pencil in the preliminary dates
above, in anticipation of finalizing them soon. Make your May hotel
reservation, but remember to first send in your registration! And, if you can,
also make a financial contribution.
Here’s to a wonder-full 2008!
With best regards,
Victor S. Wahby, MD
Founder and Director
Enclosures: 2008 Registration Form
PS: If you are considering participating in our May 14 concert at the National
Shrine, I encourage you to review the photos and videos from that magnificent
edifice at our website www.medicalmusical.org, click on “Photos”, “Videos”.
Below is a picture from our September concert there.
VA-NMMG at the National Shrine on September 11, 2007 (Photo: J. Stuart Harris)
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VA-NMMG, 1627 Preston Road, Alexandria, VA
22302
Tel: 202-797-0700, FAX: 202-797-0771 (DC), 703-931-1573 (VA)
Contact: info@medicalmusical.org
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