Interested in peace? In women's music? Catch

MUSE - Cincinnati's Women's Choir
Catherine Roma, Artistic Director
presents
The Great Peace March
23rd Annual MUSE Spring Concert
with
MUSE & Holly Near
Cindy Sheehan
Muslim Mothers Against Violence

Friday and Saturday, June 9 and 10

Pre-Concert Teach-ins begin at 7:00PM
Friday, June 9: Cindy Sheehan - Gold Start Families for Peace
Saturday, June 10: Shakila Ahmad & Saba Chughtai - Muslim Mothers Against Violence

Concert Begins at 8:00PM

New Thought Unity Center
1401 East McMillan Street, Cincinnati

Ticket Price: $15 (sliding scale $8-$25) in advance, $20 at the door

MUSE - Cincinnati's Women's Choir hosts Holly Near, Cindy Sheehan and Muslim Mothers Against Violence at the 23rd Annual MUSE Spring Concert, The Great Peace March, June 9 and 10. Pre-concert teach-ins, featuring Cindy Sheehan (Friday, June 9) and Muslim Mothers Against Violence (Saturday, June 10), will begin at 7:00PM. The Spring Concert with MUSE and Holly Near will begin at 8:00PM. All will take place at New Thought Unity Center at 1401 East McMillan Street in Cincinnati.

Activist, singer, teacher and recording artist Holly Near has spent the past 35 years working for political and social change. As one Near fan put it, "She is a divine mix of Pete Seeger and Judy Garland!" Near and MUSE will sing peace and justice-themed songs promoting local and global solidarity among women. Near will introduce songs from her newly released CD titled, Show Up. Mothers and their children will be invited to sing together on stage as part of the Annual Mother's and Children's Chorus, and MUSE will present the 4th Annual Enduring Spirit Award.

The Enduring Spirit Award recognizes a woman who embodies any or all aspects of the MUSE philosophy, including a commitment to feminism, diversity, musical excellence, community service and social justice. The choir is accepting nominations from the public for this award until May 22nd (contact the MUSE office for details).

Cindy Sheehan, internationally renowned peace activist and founder of Gold Star Families for Peace (www.gsfp.org), will join MUSE for a one-night, pre-concert teach-in on Friday, June 9. Sheehan has drawn attention to the peace movement since her son, Army Specialist Casey A. Sheehan (May 29, 1979 - April 4, 2004), was killed in action in Baghdad. In August 2005, Sheehan set up "Camp Casey" near President Bush's compound in Crawford, Texas. She is working to keep the camp functioning until the President agrees to meet with her and personally discuss her concerns. She also led the national "Bring Them Home Now" tour last year, and will soon release her book, Dear President Bush, with an introduction by Howard Zinn.

On Saturday, June 10, Muslim Mothers Against Violence (MMAV) will lead a pre-concert teach-in. MMAV is a 100-woman organization based at the Islamic Center of Cincinnati. The group's goal is to encourage non-violence through collaboration, understanding and unity within communities. These women work locally to open dialogue with Muslim mothers and their neighbors, providing adult education and youth forums, such as "Bullies and Buddies" in schools. One of MMAV's projects was to write to families who lost children in war to express their support as mothers and share the families' pain.

At the concert, MUSE will display two peace-related works of art: an interactive spiral peace mandala by local artist, C. Pic Michel; and Eyes Wide Open, an installation by the American Friends Service Committee. This spring, Michel's mandala will travel across Cincinnati, growing as people from many communities add paint and fabric while meditating on peace. The Eyes Wide Open exhibit includes 24 pairs of combat boots, each representing 100 US soldiers killed in Iraq, intended to illuminate the human cost of war.

Holly Near and MUSE Artistic Director Catherine Roma encourage Cincinnatians to attend the 23rd Annual MUSE Spring Concert and to participate in the international movement for peace:

There is so much going on out there. Peace and justice organizations are everywhere. We are no longer a minority. Becoming visible to each other is one of the great challenges we face. So, show up. It will be of great use to other peace loving people around you!
- Holly Near

Indeed this has been a year of collaborations for MUSE. We aim to build a chorus of voices to amplify our sound for change, giving our strength to the struggle, mano a mano, arm in arm. Let's all be a force for peace across the land.
- Catherine Roma

Tickets are $15 (with a sliding scale of $8-$25) in advance, and $20 at the door. They are available online at www.musechoir.org and by calling the MUSE office at (513) 221-1118. Other ticket outlets include: Shake It Records (Northside), Epic Books (Yellow Springs), and Sam and Eddie's Open Books (Yellow Springs).

Sign language interpretation will be available Saturday night only. Free child care is available with reservation by June 2, and the venue is handicap accessible. This event is co-sponsored by UC Diversity Education, UC Department of Women's Studies, UC Friends of Women's Studies, The Peace Collective, and other supporters.

MUSE - Cincinnati's Women's Choir
Phone: (513) 221-1118
Email: muse@musechoir.org
Website: www.musechoir.org

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