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Valley of Cleveland Scottish Rite News July/August, 2000 |
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Inside
Valley Chorus Valley Recognition Supreme
Council Learning Center Valley Social Programs In Memoriam Valley Societies
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VALLEY OF CLEVELAND CHORUS NOTES
By Chester Willey, Chorus Publicist The material contained in this edition of “Chorus Notes” was provided by Chorus Member, Photographer, and Historian Brother George Dobie. His camera was recently focused on the paving brick which the Chorus purchased for the newly landscaped, garden-like Euclid Avenue entrance to the Cleveland Masonic and Performing Arts Center. The purchase of these bricks can be the perfect way to commemorate not only your own but other people’s activities within the valley and in other Masonic Bodies. Do you have a close friend celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, and are stumped for a gift? If they are a Brother, buy them a brick--a truly unique and lasting gift. Outgoing Worshipful Master with a drawer full of pins??? Buy him a brick to mark both his term and the activities of your Lodge. And if you feel like showing your own support for the wonderful--and growing, and increasingly active---institution that our Valley is, buy a brick---let future generations know that you passed this way, and point them to similar deeds of Masonic charity and community leadership. The purchase of these bricks helps to support the renovations and improvements to the physical plant of our beloved building, as we enter on two extremely important and challenging endeavors for the 21st century: the emergence of our complex as a truly significant contributor to the Cleveland performing arts scene (which is the envy of many cities nationwide), and the launching of the 32° Masonic Learning Center. Support for these two endeavors places us squarely where we as Masons need to be: in the vanguard of community leadership to provide both for the education of our children and furtherance of those fine arts which uplift and define the soul of our community. * * * I wish all the brethren could have seen Brother Jim Langmead, our stage manager, as he and his staff quietly and professionally handled the ever-changing demands of a professional recording session in the Masonic Auditorium recently. As a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, I happened to be there as Conductor Pierre Boulez and the Cleveland Orchestra recorded Berlioz’ opera “Romeo and Juliette” for the Telarc label. Jim and his people did a wonderful job of keeping everything under control, keeping things flowing as smoothly as possible when dealing with nearly 300 musicians, choristers, sound engineers, and others, (Not all of whom spoke English), plus miles of cables and electrical connections. Maestro Boulez is internationally renowned as one of the top performers of the 20th Century: a scholar, conductor, composer, and educator of the first rank. At the age of 75, he is also one of the most intensely ALIVE human beings I’ve ever encountered. Boulez, when combined with the Cleveland Orchestra and Telarc engineers, is always at least nominated for a Grammy award, and he usually wins. He insists that his recordings with the Cleveland Orchestra be done only in our beloved Masonic Auditorium. * * * It it my hope as many of the brethren as possible can attend the official Dedication Ceremonies for the Valley of Cleveland’s 32° Masonic Learning Center. Ill.·. John Hall, 33°, Sovereign Prince of Bahurim Council announced in Lodge the other night that this event is to take place on Sunday, July 16th, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and will include an official visitation from our Sovereign Grand Commander, Ill.·. Robert O. Ralston, 33°. * * * One final note: Euclid Lodge no. 599 had an annual visitation to Dundern Lodge in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, which I had the privilege of attending. While there, I was talking with one of our Canadian brethren who was waxing eloquent about how active and vital their own Scottish Rite organization was. I asked the brother, “Does your Scottish Rite Valley have a Chorus??” He said, “Oh, no, we haven’t had one in years. I don’t know anyone who still has one, and I really miss it.” I replied modestly, “The Valley of Cleveland has a Chorus, and we sing for all the degree presentations”. He was suitably impressed---so mote it be---and may it continue to be into the 22nd century.
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