Each year, Her Story-Her Song gives participants and audience members an opportunity to explore an aspect of life from the feminine perspective. With each Her Story-Her Song concert, the design committee has engaged with a community agency that serves women or children to help deepen the experience for the participants and to savor the art and joy of service.

Past connections have been made with the Central Minnesota Task Force on Battered Women, New Beginnings, the Women’s Fund of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation, the Northstar Club of Sartell Middle School, Parent, Child and Women’s Services of the St. Cloud Hospital, Hands Across the World, and the St. Cloud Children’s Home.

This year, we hoped to connect to people and their stories, and in the process, perhaps to their wisdom. We were honored to make a special connection with the retired Sisters at St. Scholastica Convent in St. Cloud.

St. Cloud State University Women's Choir

This year, the concert takes us on a search for wisdom. The music and readings chosen for this concert help us on our quest, as we seek to better understand this allusive concept.

Is it a rare gift possessed by few, or a part of each one of us, waiting to be acknowledged and embraced? We hope you will join us for the journey, and that you will leave the concert choosing to join in the search.

2008 Her Story ~ Her Song

April 29th • 7pm • Bethlehem Lutheran Church • St. Cloud, MN

Her Story~Her Song honors and celebrates the rich experiences of girls and women through song, word and action. The concert has shown that experiencing fine music and poetry through a feminine lens affirms the journey of women and girls for both the performers and the audience.

Having evolved over seven years of collaboration and friendship among women faculty members in the SCSU Department of Music, the concert offers powerful opportunities for service learning, provides exceptional mentoring models, and creates respect for diverse experiences. Joining the SCSU Women’s Choir and faculty for this year’s concert, will be Donne Voce from Sartell High School.

Each year, Her Story~Her Song establishes a community connection with an agency that provides services to women and/or children. Past connections have been made with the Central Minnesota Task Force on Battered Women, New Beginnings, the Women’s Fund of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation, the Northstar Club of Sartell Middle School, Parent, Child and Women’s Services of the St. Cloud Hospital, and Hands Across the World. In 2008 the musicians are fortunate to be collaborating with the St. Cloud Children’s Home, with a special focus on the adolescent girls of Cottage One. We are grateful for the way each of these agencies has embraced and nurtured the opportunity to work and learn with us. Through these collaborations we hope to open doors to meaningful engagement, an essential step in creating a nurturing community for us all, and to empower the students involved to discover their own potential to grow, serve and make meaningful contributions to their communities. As a part of this collaborative effort:

During March, university students and faculty toured the Children’s Home and attended a panel discussion presented by adolescents from the program. Each of these young people graciously shared their own stories, giving all involved a glimpse into their experiences.

In consultation with Children’s Home staff, lists were created of items that residents would benefit from having. The decision was made to focus on arts and craft supplies that students could use for varied art activities, as well as scrapbooking items to be used in a joint scrapbooking day. SCSU and Sartell High School choir members have begun to collect a wide variety of art supplies that will be donated to the Children’s Home.

In early April, university students and Cottage One residents spent a Saturday afternoon scrapbooking together. An earlier photo shoot was held in order to supply photos for the Children’s Home residents to put into their scrapbooks. The activity provided an opportunity for meaningful interaction, role-modeling, and joyful camaraderie.

These interactions have prompted a number of university choir members to inquire about volunteer opportunities with the Children’s Home.

The Her Story ~ Her Song planning committee is very grateful to our friends at the St. Cloud Children’s Home for their enthusiasm and support of these interactions and this concert. It has been an inspiring collaboration. The Her Story~Her Song concert is proud to be presented by the SCSU Department of Music. The performance is Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 7pm, Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

For more information contact Mary Jo Bot

mjbot@stcloudstate.edu / (320) 308-3836

2007 Her Story ~ Her Song

May 1st at 7pm - Bethlehem Luthern Church

During February and March Brianda Ciedel, the founder of Hands Across the World, and Julie Collins, an Americorps volunteer who assists Brianda, visited the choirs and spoke about the organization, its clientele and about the work they do. Each of these women provided students with a positive and strong role model of someone who has made a difference in her community.

Students were offered the opportunity to volunteer at the South Side Boys’ and Girls’ Club during Hands Across the World morning classes for new immigrants.

In consultation with Hands Across the World staff, lists were created of items for adults and children who may arrive in Central MN without things they need. The list included such items as shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap, towels, and washcloths. Students and faculty collected these items to create “Welcome Bags” for Hands Across the World to distribute to new immigrants and refugees. In April, choir members and faculty gathered together to pack these bags for our newest community members.

A small collection of books, markers, crayons and paper were collected and donated for Hands Across the World to use with children in the program.

St. Cloud State University

Music Department - St. Cloud State University

2009 Her Story ~ Her Song

2008 Her Story ~ Her Song

2007 Her Story ~ Her Song

Music (contact information)

	A-Z Index \| News \| Library \| Technology \| Support St. Cloud State \| St. Cloud State University Home Admissions Academics Student Life About SCSU Athletics Alumni & Friends Music Department - St. Cloud State University Home Mission & Vision Programs & Degrees Admissions Scholarships Performance Bands Choirs Orchestra Private Lessons Community Her Story, Her Song Faculty Facilities Media Library Downloads Outstanding Alumni Preparatory Program Concert Calendar Contact 2009 Her Story ~ Her Song April 21st • 7:30pm Bethlehem Lutheran Church • St. Cloud, MN Each year, Her Story-Her Song gives participants and audience members an opportunity to explore an aspect of life from the feminine perspective. With each Her Story-Her Song concert, the design committee has engaged with a community agency that serves women or children to help deepen the experience for the participants and to savor the art and joy of service. Past connections have been made with the Central Minnesota Task Force on Battered Women, New Beginnings, the Women’s Fund of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation, the Northstar Club of Sartell Middle School, Parent, Child and Women’s Services of the St. Cloud Hospital, Hands Across the World, and the St. Cloud Children’s Home. This year, we hoped to connect to people and their stories, and in the process, perhaps to their wisdom. We were honored to make a special connection with the retired Sisters at St. Scholastica Convent in St. Cloud. The SCSU Women’s Choir hosted a tea party for the Sisters on February 28 during which they shared musical performances, food, conversation and of course, tea served on wisdom placemats made by the members of Cantabile. It was a wonderful afternoon that challenged stereotypes, fostered wonderful conversations and triggered warm relationships. Cantabile members were invited to forge individual relationships with special women of their choice through guided conversations exploring real wisdom in real lives. Many also created personal representations of concert repertoire using various art forms. Present at this year’s concert will be a beautiful, full-scale reproduction of Wisdom Books, the fifth volume in The Saint John’s Bible. Students from both choirs were able to view DVD’s introducing the art of illumination in the St. John’s Bible, and a portion of a BBC Documentary on the project. This year, the concert takes us on a search for wisdom. The music and readings chosen for this concert help us on our quest, as we seek to better understand this allusive concept. Is it a rare gift possessed by few, or a part of each one of us, waiting to be acknowledged and embraced? We hope you will join us for the journey, and that you will leave the concert choosing to join in the search. For more information contact Mary Jo Bot mjbot@stcloudstate.edu / (320) 308-3836 2008 Her Story ~ Her Song April 29th • 7pm • Bethlehem Lutheran Church • St. Cloud, MN *Her Story~Her Song* honors and celebrates the rich experiences of girls and women through song, word and action. The concert has shown that experiencing fine music and poetry through a feminine lens affirms the journey of women and girls for both the performers and the audience. Having evolved over seven years of collaboration and friendship among women faculty members in the SCSU Department of Music, the concert offers powerful opportunities for service learning, provides exceptional mentoring models, and creates respect for diverse experiences. Joining the SCSU Women’s Choir and faculty for this year’s concert, will be Donne Voce from Sartell High School. Each year, *Her Story~Her Song* establishes a community connection with an agency that provides services to women and/or children. Past connections have been made with the Central Minnesota Task Force on Battered Women, New Beginnings, the Women’s Fund of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation, the Northstar Club of Sartell Middle School, Parent, Child and Women’s Services of the St. Cloud Hospital, and Hands Across the World. In 2008 the musicians are fortunate to be collaborating with the St. Cloud Children’s Home, with a special focus on the adolescent girls of Cottage One. We are grateful for the way each of these agencies has embraced and nurtured the opportunity to work and learn with us. Through these collaborations we hope to open doors to meaningful engagement, an essential step in creating a nurturing community for us all, and to empower the students involved to discover their own potential to grow, serve and make meaningful contributions to their communities. As a part of this collaborative effort: During March, university students and faculty toured the Children’s Home and attended a panel discussion presented by adolescents from the program. Each of these young people graciously shared their own stories, giving all involved a glimpse into their experiences. In consultation with Children’s Home staff, lists were created of items that residents would benefit from having. The decision was made to focus on arts and craft supplies that students could use for varied art activities, as well as scrapbooking items to be used in a joint scrapbooking day. SCSU and Sartell High School choir members have begun to collect a wide variety of art supplies that will be donated to the Children’s Home. In early April, university students and Cottage One residents spent a Saturday afternoon scrapbooking together. An earlier photo shoot was held in order to supply photos for the Children’s Home residents to put into their scrapbooks. The activity provided an opportunity for meaningful interaction, role-modeling, and joyful camaraderie. These interactions have prompted a number of university choir members to inquire about volunteer opportunities with the Children’s Home. The Her Story ~ Her Song planning committee is very grateful to our friends at the St. Cloud Children’s Home for their enthusiasm and support of these interactions and this concert. It has been an inspiring collaboration. The *Her Story~Her Song* concert is proud to be presented by the SCSU Department of Music. The performance is Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 7pm, Bethlehem Lutheran Church. For more information contact Mary Jo Bot mjbot@stcloudstate.edu / (320) 308-3836 2007 Her Story ~ Her Song May 1st at 7pm - Bethlehem Luthern Church During February and March Brianda Ciedel, the founder of Hands Across the World, and Julie Collins, an Americorps volunteer who assists Brianda, visited the choirs and spoke about the organization, its clientele and about the work they do. Each of these women provided students with a positive and strong role model of someone who has made a difference in her community. Students were offered the opportunity to volunteer at the South Side Boys’ and Girls’ Club during Hands Across the World morning classes for new immigrants. In consultation with Hands Across the World staff, lists were created of items for adults and children who may arrive in Central MN without things they need. The list included such items as shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap, towels, and washcloths. Students and faculty collected these items to create “Welcome Bags” for Hands Across the World to distribute to new immigrants and refugees. In April, choir members and faculty gathered together to pack these bags for our newest community members. A small collection of books, markers, crayons and paper were collected and donated for Hands Across the World to use with children in the program. Music (contact information) 720 4th Avenue South - St. Cloud, Minnesota 56301-4498 Page Revised: 04/10/2009 Phone: (320) 308-3223 © 2009 St. Cloud State University Site Map \| Map & Directions \| Contact SCSU \| Accreditations St. Cloud State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity educator and employer. St. Cloud State University is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.