Help Us Bring Bobby McFerrin to Wichita
We Need Your Help!
Once, long ago, I had a cosmic encounter with Bobby McFerrin. The whole story is outlined below, but the short version is... I must bring him to Wichita to conduct a home-grown choir/orchestra made up of real people; a lead choir of mostly vocal music teachers, the orchestra of local Wichita-based players, and the concert itself part "come sing with us" and the other half with Bobby doing what Bobby does.
Can you picture it? Can you see it? Everyone and Anyone Can Sing! I want to share his genius with as many as I am able.
I have been in contact with his booking agent/manager, Fred Miller. Fred says all we need to do is raise $50,000 and it's done!
I have shared this with some of the vocal music folk in charge at USD259, and they think... well, that I'm crazy. I would like to show them that yes, I am, but we can still do this.
If you know grant writers, or are one yourself, please consider putting together a proposal, or send me grant opportunities, and I'll do it. If you're able, donate $50. I will happily send you a voucher for free admission to any show we present or host.
If you can donate $1, please do, and consider writing to encourage others to do so. Any amount is a treasure, and so very much appreciated. Those who get what music is and does know this man's genius.
Please hit the donate button, and get us closer to the mark.
Read the story of how this came together.
It started with a simple email Billie sent Fred Miller:
Greetings,
Once, long ago, when Kim Teevan was Bobby’s manager, I wrote a letter to Bobby, sharing my perspective on Bobby’s genius. At the time, I was studying choral conducting. Kim was kind enough to pass my letter on to Bobby, and he was gracious enough to call me. We had a wonderful conversation about conducting, rehearsal technique, and music in general.
That experience was over ten years ago. Since then, I’ve earned my masters in vocal music performance and choral conducting at Wichita State University, and was conductor of the Wichita Choral Society for a couple of years. I have had numerous other musical experiences, but the most important to me is the creation of the nonprofit, tax-exempt music organization, People Who GET It (PWGI)
PWGI’s mission is to gather those who get what music is and does, specifically choral and acoustic artists, and gather, jam, host concerts, give concerts, help artists get their music out, give voice and guitar lessons to those who can’t afford it, and anything else that comes along that will get great music out to those who need it, e.g., I was given a scholarship from Wesley Medical Center to receive certification as a Music Practitioner (from Music for Transition and Healing mhtp.org), so I can provide music to those in critical care and hospice.
When I created PWGI, one item on my list of dreams was to get Bobby to Wichita to give a concert and workshop. He did perform in concert as part of KMEA, but I would like to do something a little different. One of my crazy ideas (that I think he might smile at) is to do a “y’all come sing Mozart Requiem” concert. I lived in Massachusetts for fifteen years, and community choirs out there do that kind of thing all the time. They send out an announcement that there will be a community sing of a large work, an orchestra is hired to play, everyone purchases their own score, comes to the concert hall, and everyone joins in to a musical free-for all.
So what is the point of all this? Mostly, I want to reconnect. Bobby is a musical genius. It’s pretty simple. I would love to study with him.. but who wouldn’t. I have studied the Mozart Requiem since I first sang it when I was a sophomore in high school...35 years ago. I’ve wanted to conduct it ever since. I studied it with Maestro Michael Palmer when was an artist in residence at WSU. What I envision is a workshop for choral and orchestral musicians... maybe a “let’s sing this and study it at the same time” Then maybe have Bobby do a solo concert, or a solo/choir concert, or a solo/choir/orchestra concert.... really, whatever he would like. Do we have any money? Not right now. I made PWGI a non-membership organization on purpose. I didn’t want people to have to pay to become a member to receive any benefit from what we do. However, I do know if Bobby said he was interested in organizing a Mozart Requiem/workshop/concert/fun day for anyone and everyone, and you let me know how much you would charge to get Bobby out to Wichita, I wouldn’t stop until I raised those funds. What we intend, becomes.
If you have gotten here, thank you for reading my thoughts. Please know, regardless of whatever you decide, I will always revere Maestro McFerrin. His concerts are educational, inspirational, and healing to those who allow themselves to be open to his genius. Let me know what kind of funding I will need to raise to get him here, and I will get started.
Best always,
Billie Fredholm
People Who GET It, Inc.
http://www.myspace.com/pwgi
His response:
Dear Billie-
Thank you for your eloquent letter. Bobby does have Mozart Requiem on his repertoire list, but hasn’t performed or conducted it for a few years. He may still be open to the possibility, however.
His “normal” concert is solo a capella, with audience involvement and sometimes with “special guests.” Cost for a single evening’s concert is usually around USD $45-50,000. The addition of a workshop/clinic/master class depends on the timing (extra day(s) or not) and can run from $5000 for a 1 - 2 hour class to $15,000 for a full day... In combination with a concert. He is open to all possibilities and it will make the most sense if he is already in the Midwest or the Kansas area.
For 2009, he plans to be in your general area during parts of January (already fully booked) and some of March - - I still have a few dates available, but it’s probably too late for you for 2009. In 2010, your best beet would be February 12/13, prior to Chicago and Wisconsin residencies and concerts from 15-21 February.
Please let me know as soon as convenient if this will work out for you in Wichita so I know whether or not to hold the dates for you.
Best wishes for a good holiday!
Cheers,
Fred Fred MILLER | Original Artists
826 Broadway, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10003
P 212 254 1234 | F 212 254 3121 | fredmiller@originalartists.com