Chicago Area Talents Celebrate International Women's Day and Break the Bias
Working In Concerts' Bellissima Opera creates an opportunity to come together and #BreakTheBias during the International Women's Day Concert (March 8) was a signature event.
The Concert co-hosted by Good Shepherd in Oak Park was a who's-who of Chicago-area talent in celebration of International Women's Day - #IWD2022, which supports the work of women creatives and enhances the visibility of women artists around the globe.
This passionate affair included vocal arts, opera, written word, and Hawaiian hula.
"Hula, like opera, tells stories, in this case with their our body rather than their voice. Together, the pieces of our concert invite the audience to be up close and personal," explains Bellissima Opera artistic director Christine Steyer.
After enjoying intimate vocal performances and the hula dance, a lively post-concert reception continued the empowering energy. The immersion in the arts was just the enchantment we need.
The Performers (captioned in photo) Co-hosts Claudia Hommel of Working In Concert and Rev. Kathy Nolte of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, emcee and author Mary Grace Bertulfo (the person you want to narrate your memoir).
The Reach - More than 150 guests enjoyed a fabulous evening thanks to the hospitality team.
Audience members included Victoria Storm, a music therapist/songwriter for Kettlestrings, Ava Logan and David Stephens of Black Voices in Cabaret, award-winning author and applied-neuroscientist Diane Grimmard-Wilson, visual artist Roshi Robert Althouse of Zen Life Meditation Center, renowned voice teacher Elisabeth Howard, vocal teacher Maria Lagios and husband Peter, Judy Grace, Ellie Sharpe, Kinslahger Brewing's Susan Huizinga, Village President Vicki Scaman, and Jennifer Marling were among VIPs.
The Cause - International Women's Day was founded in 1911, to accelerate progress towards equal rights. Today, IWD is embraced by groups collectively around the world.
Attendees take home memories and melodies from local female composers:
Patrice Michaels, Lena J. McLin, Elizabeth Rudolph, and Lita Grier, whose songs were performed at the concert. Planning for next year's much-anticipated event is in the works!