By Penny Roberts

Please don’t miss “Love Notes,” the Estes Park Chorale’s spring concert, at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 10, 2025. The Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies is the venue for this happy, peaceful and uplifting collection of vocal music numbers, inspired by Greek definitions of love. In this uncertain time in history, love is truly the emotion that binds us together in unity.

Tickets are $10.00 and are available from any chorus member, the Macdonald Book Shop or at the door. The Chorale is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and donations are always welcome to support our musical efforts every year.

Denise Stookesberry is the artistic director, completing her ninth year with the Chorale. She brings vast enthusiasm and commitment to inspire a growing membership of over 50 men and women in song.

Michelle Gergen-Wisner as our accompanist is absolutely necessary to our success. She keeps us together, in tune, in time and helps bring success to rehearsals and, of course, in the performance of the concert itself. Hours of her own practice time is evident in her expertise and devotion to excellence. Thanks again, Michelle!

Let’s be sure to recognize Steve Tice, as our narrator. His script will introduce the various numbers and provide special perspective to the divergent types of love in the world.

The second half of the concert begins with “Fly Away Home,” with words and music by Pinkzebra. No, nobody knows who Pinkzebra is, but he is a prolific producer and composer of a vast array of upbeat and uplifting different vocal and orchestral songs. In the “Storge” or family type of love, “Fly Away Home” explores the world and life experiences, while staying connected with others where you came from. Peace comes from knowing you can always return to home and family.

Another number showing the love of family and home is “Dance For Love,” which inseparably merges the poetry of William Straub’s 1865 Civil War poem with the transparent color palette of the music of Z. Randall Stroope. A soldier who survived the ravages of war is eagerly turning homeward, dancing his way to beauty and laughter, anticipating a joyful reunion with his beloved Sarah.

Three country music singers, Natalie Hemby, Lori McKenna and Brandi Carlile, got together to bring us a contemporary, off-beat and syncopated piece, “Crowded Table.” A special treat is a violin accompaniment by Elizabeth Lanning. Agape is the Greek love style, philosophically illustrating the selfless love that a person feels for strangers and humanity as a whole. “I want a house with a crowded table,” with “a place by the fire for everyone.” “The door is always open, your picture’s on my wall.” There’s a plea here to “take on the world while we’re young and able.” Right?

The Simpatica Ensemble, composed of Miranda Dillard, Anna Weddle, Denise Stookesberry, Steve Tice and Nelson Burke, brings the folk song with the universal love theme, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” to our audience. Your toes will be tapping, and you’ll want to clap and sway along with the singers.

Let’s bring some more universal love in the Agape style with a very recent composition, “All together We Are Love,” words and music by Katerina Gimon. Few of us have ever heard, let alone sung, Aleatoric music, wherein the element of composition is left to chance by the performer. “I am a dreamer, I am a song,” brings random thoughts floating around, sounding like many people talking at the same time. While it’s difficult, unnatural and nearly impossible to perform, let’s see how well we do, OK?

Simple, yet profound, and pointedly to today’s world, with Jeff Lindberg as the soloist, “I Choose Love,” should always bring to the forefront of our thoughts that love is necessary when pain, war and a world falling down seem to overwhelm us. Agape, or unconditional universal love, is felt by any person willing to do anything for another. Let’s always “climb to holy ground.”

The concert concludes with a compelling and inspirational arrangement by Mac Huff of “Stand Up,” words and music by Joshuah Campbell and Cynthia Echeumuno-Erivo. From the musical “Harriet,” based on the story of Harriet Tubman, this is a revival of a gospel song, and we are delighted to spotlight the clear sparkling tones of Patricia Arias as the soloist. She urgently encourages all of us to “take my people with me to a brand-new home.” You’ll want to stand up with us!