Hey, it’s Jack. This is probably the weirdest letter I’ve ever written. It’s a personal letter to my professional friends.
I’ll tell you right up front, I’m going to ask you to make a donation in the name of Beauty. So, you can stop reading now if you don’t want to know more.
If you’re still reading, let me tell you a story about the power of Beauty.
Last Saturday night, the choir I sing with performed Faure’s Requiem. There’s a moment at the beginning when we sing Et lux perpetua, (“perpetual light.”)
It was so indescribably beautiful I had to stop singing.
No, that’s not quite right.
I was incapable of singing – or even speaking – in that moment. The transcendent beauty of the music just overwhelmed me. The only response I could make was to weep with joy.
I recovered – eventually – and managed to sing again.
Even now, as I remember that moment, I am overcome with wonder and awe. It was a transcendent moment, a sacred moment.
I believe that Beauty such as this worth our time. It’s a meaningful pursuit.
I believe that if we pursue Beauty with all our hearts, then Beauty will lead us into the presence of the Divine.
On Saturday night – ever so briefly – we were all transported into a sacred space, into the presence of the Divine.
That’s what this is about: creating those Divine moments, ushering people into sacred spaces through the Beauty of great music.
Our choir – the Sonoran Desert Chorale – performs great choral music 8 times a year, 4 different concerts performed twice each.
We sing to create those sacred moments.
And I can say without reservation: we always deliver those moments – in every concert. (This is our 26th season; I’ve been with the choir for 4 seasons now.)
All the singers are volunteers, though membership is by audition only. We have a professional music director, Carric Smolnik. And we hire professional musicians.
Together, they help shape this motley crew of engineers, teachers, doctors and writers into a single, unified chorus capable of delivering Beauty each and every concert.
Sure, it takes talent and passion and time to keep this thing going. And – as you might suspect – it takes money as well. Advertising. Instrumentalists. Carrick. Performance spaces. It all takes money.
And that’s where you come in. Your $20 investment in The Sonoran Desert Chorale helps bring more Beauty into the world. More divine moments. More sacred space. More love.
I’m asking you to help.
I’ve explained why I believe it matters. If that makes sense, then please take a moment and donate $20 to the Chorale.
Go here to donate (and see a photo of me in a monkey suit.)
You can also hear recordings of us, watch videos of us perform, buy our CDs – the whole 9 yards. It’s all there on our website.
Thanks in advance for your donation. Let me know if I can answer any questions.
PS: Sorry this isn’t more personal. As you can imagine, a lot of people are seeing this. Do check out our website. I think you’ll appreciate it.