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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE PRIDE GUIde 1997

One woman's vision keeps chorus going for 18 years

by Julie Henderson

and Adora Glorioso

Cleveland-Determination, persistence, and desire have bubbled from the voice of one woman in Cleveland since 1979. Her voice spoke with firm determination of building a feminist women's chorus and a refused to fade quietly when faced with lack of interest or conflict. Every winter, she persistently recruited friends to form a small ensemble for the Womyn's Variety Show. The desire to sing-to share song from a purely feminist perspective was deeply rooted within the heart of Gayle Crawford and her friends.

Cleveland needed pioneers such as Crawford, Ellen Catlin and Rebecca Levin to provide the foundation for feminist music to grow and blossom into a chorus. Many have floated through the life of the Windsong Women's Ensemble, but these three women have been the soul of the chorus since 1979. Along with Mollie Postotnik, they currently serve as the core group which leads and makes decisions for Windsong.

The history is colorful and woven with diversity, talents, and the strength of women. The founding women, June Adams and Betsy Reeves, organized and conducted the Cleveland Women's Choir, which performed in the 1979 Variety Show. Shortly afterwards, Adams and Reeves left Cleveland to move out west. Lisa Rainsong and Gayle Pilat filled the gap by conducting various performances, in venues such as the Tenth Muse Coffeehouse, the Variety Show, and the Coventry and Hessler Street Fairs.

In 1980, Penny Guy became the conductor and shared the baton with singer and songwriter Kay Gardner during a special concert at Case Western Reserve University's Harkness Chapel. Later that year, Penny resigned when one of her children became ill, so Nan Gerard led the ensemble. From 1981 through 1990, the chorus members only performed at the Womyn's Variety Show in small skits or ensembles. The most memorable act was The

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Moral Chorale, which mocked the. "Moral Majority."

During 1987, Gayle Crawford began recruiting again to form a stable women's chorus, but the group lacked a conductor to provide the cohesiveness needed to handle more than the Variety Show performances.

In 1992, Crawford once again pursued her friends to build a solid chorus and find a conductor. The 1992 Variety Show proved to be the beginning of Windsong Womyn's Ensemble. Under the direction of Gayle Pilat, they performed "I Am Here," an original work from R.M. and Lisa Rainsong. This was a powerful foundation for a committed choral group.

Change swept through the chorus in 1993 when Pilat resigned to pursue other musical projects. The ensemble welcomed Diane Hobus to be the new conductor, and Michelle Colopy served as the business manager. They provided the group with much-needed encouragement and leadership. In the fall of 1995, Hobus and Colopy left the ensemble to form the Crooked River Women's Chorus in Ak-

ron.

Undaunted, six or seven women kept the chorus alive and performing in Cleveland, though membership dwindled. They sang at the 1996 Variety Show, the last year's Cleveland Pride Festival, and for a Women Speak Out for Peace and Justice conference. Without the efforts of these women, Windsong would have vanished.

In October of 1996, Sharon K. Marrell was selected to lead the ensemble. Marrell had an extensive background in music performance and quickly instilled a new confidence within the choir.

Shortly thereafter, the chorus members agreed to shorten their name from Windsong Womyn's Ensemble to Windsong, and thus, a rebirth occurred.

Adora Glorioso became the accompanist in January. In February, with a whirlwind of change, Windsong performed "We're A Fam-

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The Windsong Women's Ensemble

ily" at the Womyn's Variety Show and received a thunderous ovation.

Gratefully, Windsong has found its voice under the new conductor and has been experiencing new growth, tripling its size.

"I believe the chorus creates positive changes within ourselves and the community in general," says core group member Ellen Catlin, who feels the chorus has formed deep and lasting friendships through its inclusiveness and positive nature.

Commenting on some possible projects and long term goals for the group, she continues, "Rebecca Levin, Susan Schnur, and I went to the National Women's Choral Festival in 1994 to scope out the possibilities of Windsong participating at the next festival in 1998. The opportunity to sing with eighty to a hundred other women's choruses would definitely be a group 'personal' best."

In keeping with the positive nature and energy of the group, Rebecca Levin believes that "Oven Productions and the Womyn's Variety Show have been consistent sources of strength for Windsong." Furthermore, Rebecca enjoys lighthearted camaraderie and quips, "Our new shirts are wonderful and could even be used as bowling shirts!"

Gayle Crawford is happy to relinquish some responsibility to the new director and accompanist. "I would be thrilled to have membership expand too. I hope we become established like Muse [a 60-voice women's chorus] of Cincinnati," says Crawford, excited by the wild growth and enthusiasm of the new membership.

"Windsong has changed me in ways that I never thought possible. I had never participated in any choir before joining in 1992. It has given me the courage to let out my voice and that is a miracle to me," said Mollie Postotnik. "I am so proud of the chorus since

Sharon, Adora, and Julie came. The growth and enthusiasm shows the experience each of them has brought to Windsong. I want to publicly thank them.”

"It's important that I thank the women who stuck around through the hard times, too. I am eternally grateful," Postotnik added.

"Grace Notes" is Windsong's unique volunteer staff, consisting of friends, partners, and the "vocally challenged." They assist behind the scenes in supporting roles to the chorus.

Windsong has worn many faces since its birth eighteen years ago. A source of refuge for many of its members and a fountain of inspiration for others to advance within the field of women's music, Windsong has been a base for building friendships and a light for expanding spiritual beliefs. The Chorus readily shares its songs with any women who wish to sing and anyone who wishes to hear.

Windsong's mission is to sing and to promote and encourage women artists, singers, and songwriters from Ohio and beyond.

The challenges and their unique history has matured Windsong into a proud feminist chorus. In closing, the one thing that will always tie diversity together is music. May we all find song during Pride!

For information or to make donations, contact Gayle Crawford at 216-921-7328.

Upcoming performances include June 21 at Kimbilio Farms in Big Prairie, near Wooster; and June 28 at both the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay-Bi Pride Festival and the Women's International League for Peace and Justice in Cleveland.

Julie Henderson, owner of Music Mania in Alliance, is Windsong's business manager, and Cuyahoga Community College professor Adora Glorioso is the group's accompanist.

Cleveland Pride vendors

Cleveland-These are the booths and vendors set for the Cleveland Pride festival as of May 23. Booths are still available; call 216-556-5070 to register.

"Pride 1996 showed us our largest vending area and food court to date, with over 80 booths," said Pride coordinator Brynna Fish. "This year promises to be even bigger and better, with more shopping, browsing, and terrific eats!"

Akron NOW/Stonewall Alice Paul Printers

Bill 'n' Bob's Place Online BBS Billy's Restaurant

Bisexual Women's Group

Black and White Men Together Body Language

BP ProCare Bay Village/Lakewood Chevrei Tikva

Clay Spirits Studio

Cleveland Couples Together Cleveland P-FLAG

Clifford House Bed and Breakfast Clifton Web

Diva NCAA Volleyball League Domino's Pizza

Emmanuel Christian Fellowship Church of Akron

Emmanuel Christian Fellowship Church of Cleveland Expose Magazine

Gay Community Yellow Pages

Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN)

Gay People's Chronicle

Hair Society

Health Education AIDS League (HEAL) High Tide, Rock Bottom

It's It Deli

J. Glen Smith Health Center Lavender Rose

Lesbian Gay Community Service

Center of Cleveland

Love Makes a Family, national touring

photo exhibit

Metro Toyota

Northeast Ohio Physicians for Human Rights

NOCI, Northern Ohio Coalition, Inc. Pathfinder Bookstore

Pride Beverages

Pride Raffle

Pride T-shirts

PRYSM, Presence and Respect for Youth in Sexual Minority

Red Hen Feminist Theater

Red Star Cafe

Ritzy's Threads The Open House

Uncommon Destinations Valentine News World Workers Party Xchange Point

YWCA

Zion United Church of Christ of Cleveland