Dear Friends,

Next week, I will join 21 current and former singers of The Rainbow Chorus as we head to New York City to perform When We No Longer Touch at Carnegie Hall on Sunday, February 19. Our group of 22 will be joining approximately 225 others -- all members of GALA Choruses from around the world... England, France, Africa, Canada and many of the United States. (The Rainbow Chorus is made up of gay and straight singers from northern Colorado, singing together in harmony. GALA is the 'Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses.)

When We No Longer Touch was written by Kris Anthony as he lived and died with HIV/AIDS. It is a song cycle about the stages of death. It was first performed 15 years ago, and has since been performed around the world, but never at Carnegie Hall.

PBS did a documentary called After Goodbye, an AIDS Story, which was about the Turtle Creek Chorale and their experience of losing over 60 members (at that time) to AIDS. The songs of When We No Longer Touch are sung throughout the documentary. Tim Seelig, Artistic Director of the Turtle Creek Chorale in Dallas, TX, will direct us at Carneige, as he did on the documentary. We are all, obviously, very excited about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Please wish us well!

Thank you for allowing us to rehearse in the church's beautiful activity center these past 6 weeks! It provided us with a wonderful rehearsal hall. A special thanks goes to Laurie Stone, for unlocking the doors for us each week! Ben and I have missed seeing many of you over the last year and a half. We plan to come visit soon!

With love,

Maria (Swall)