Alumni Newsletter Issue #3
There was something magical about listening to our young people sing at the February concert framed by giant sparkling letters spelling out the word L-O-V-E which couldn’t help but make you feel inspired, joy-filled and hopeful for the world and our beloved Red Rose organization.
Now, our sights are set on the culmination of this season as we prepare for the 25th Anniversary Celebration, a milestone that would be incomplete without all of you!
The 25th Anniversary Celebration Weekend
With a desire to make new memories and blend past and present, we invite you to a glorious weekend of fellowship and song.
Alumni Choir
June 4, 2022, Rehearsal, 3:00-4:30 PM, Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Warm up your voices and connect with friends old and new, delighting once again in making beautiful chorale music together. The Alumni Choir will perform one of Christine Lim’s all-time Red Rose favorites, Dirait-On, by Morten Lauridsen. We are grateful for all she has meant to the choir and to all of you as this concert will mark her retirement and the closing of an incredibly special chapter in her life. Read more about Mrs. Lim below.
Another special treat will be the piece, Morningsong, composed by Jacob Narverud and including the poetry of Sharon Augsburger, which was specifically commissioned for our 25th anniversary in honor of our founding directors. See our next issue for details about this centerpiece of our concert and the history behind the writing of this piece.
25th Anniversary Celebration
June 4, 2022, 5-8 PM, Mickey Finns, Libertyville
You are invited to gather for food and fellowship celebrating 25 years of this amazing organization. We will have time with Directors and Staff, past and present, and all Red Rose singers and families sharing memories and celebrating the gift of music this organization has provided for the past 25 years!
“What Red Rose Has Meant to You” Tribute
Do you have a favorite picture, memory, reflection of your time with Red Rose? We would love for you to share these as we do a tribute to all Red Rose has meant to you.
25th Anniversary Concert
June 5, 2022 – 2:00 PM, Stevenson High School Performing Arts Center, Lincolnshire
The final concert of the season will acknowledge all the wonderful memories of the past, the joy of the present and opportunities for the future.
As we count down to our celebration, please be on the look-out for weekly communications featuring each of the above.
Who Accompanies Today’s Red Rose Singers?
Christine Lim is the accompanist for Master Singers, and Bella Rosa. She obtained her BA in Music at Ewah Women’s University in Seoul, Korea. She received her MA and Certificate in Piano Performance from Northwestern University. She has studied with David Kaserman and Sylvia Wang. She currently is a faculty member of National Lewis University. She is also the pianist for the Aionios Piano Trio, a group that was established in 1998 at Northwestern University. She has been with RRCCLC since 2004 and so many alumni have experienced Mrs. Lim’s quiet encouragement and the gorgeous way her musicianship supports each singer and gives them the confidence to express themselves through song.
As mentioned in the newsletter’s opening paragraph, Mrs. Lim has made the incredibly difficult decision to retire after this season. As many of you know, Mrs. Lim’s own two daughters, Anna and Grace, sang with Red Rose as they were growing up. Although we are a bit heartbroken by the news, we are excited for this next chapter in her life, and know she deserves some rest and more time with her husband, Jay.
Mrs. Lim’s steadfast musical and emotional support of both the singers and the staff has enhanced the rehearsal and performance experiences for everyone, and we are truly thankful for her amazing dedication to our choirs. To say she will be missed by all of us would be a drastic understatement, and she truly can never be replaced. We were graced by a performance from Mrs. Lim at the last concert and it is no coincidence that the name of her group, “Aionios” means everlasting in Greek. We can all agree that her impact on this organization will be an everlasting one.
A Love Note from Mrs. Lim
Reflecting on her time with RRCCLC, Mrs. Lim wanted to share these words with the Red Rose alumni
Over the last 18 years, it has been an honor for me to be a part of this wonderful organization, Red Rose Children’s Choir. I still remember meeting our founding directors, Mrs. Augsburger, Mrs. Negus, and Mrs. Younts on a summer day back in 2004. From the very first day they welcomed me with a warm embrace, and the choir became a place where I was loved and accepted for who I am. It did not take long for me to realize that this is how each choir member is treated as well. I could not be prouder to have worked with such excellent music educators. From behind the piano keys, I was able to personally witness these educators make meaningful traditions for the next generation. And I am confident that these traditions will continue to grow and impact more people through the leadership of Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Cole, Mrs. Drake, Mrs. Kim, and Mr. Weppler. As I enter a new season of life, I will continue to be grateful for the loving Red Rose staff, singers, and families. I am looking forward to listening to their music as an audience member, where I will be cheering you on. Thank you for the constant love and support. Red Rose Children’s Choir will always hold a special place in my heart.
Dr. Jean Kim is the Accompanist of the Concert Choir and Boy’s Choirs I and II. Her passion for music started when she began studying piano at the age of 3 1/2 and continued through her college years. She performed and competed locally in the Chicagoland area as well as in a few national competitions. Though her career took a turn in trajectory when she entered college and enrolled in the Honors Program in Medical Education at Northwestern University, she continued to be influenced by brilliant piano teachers, getting the opportunity to perform at the Ravinia Festival master classes and to play in the beautiful Preston Bradley Hall as a Musicians Club of Women of Chicago scholarship winner. Although her professional career has been in the healthcare field, her heart has always been in music.
Dr. Kim’s introduction to the Red Rose Choir and Lake County Boys Choir happened when her sons attended Butterfield School, where Jonathan Weppler teaches music. She saw a poster in the hallway for the RRCCLC holiday performance, brought the boys to see them, and she and the boys were immediately hooked! Her younger son, Joey who was in 1st grade at the time, asked to sign up immediately. He is now in 8th grade and loves singing with the choir. After collaborating with Jonathan on a Butterfield School music performance, she happily accepted the offer to join the choir as accompanist 3 years ago. Jean says that “It has been one of the highlights of my musical career, performing alongside these young singers, especially having one of my sons in the group, watching them grow musically and as a community.”
Red Rose Alumni Update
Megan Hanson
Red Rose Singer – 2019 Graduate
I am Megan Hanson, and I am a Red Rose alumna from 2019! I was part of the choir for nine years. I am currently a junior at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. My first year I was part of the soprano-alto Manitou Singers and performed in the annual St Olaf Christmas Festival, which was recorded in 2019 and broadcast nationwide on PBS in 2020. The past two years I have participated in a few small semester-long choral ensembles. At school, I am majoring in environmental studies and studio art. I am especially interested in ecology, and I am looking forward to a summer restoration internship with Lake Bluff Open Lands. This school year I have enjoyed living with several wonderful roommates, one of whom has a cat (who is also wonderful). I miss Red Rose and the great friends I made during my time there, and I hope to see them soon!
Next Issue
As previously mentioned, we are excited to feature a little background on the commissioned piece, Morningsong, composed by Jacob Narverud. We will continue to keep you apprised of all the fun as we count down to the 25th celebration weekend. We would also love to spotlight you in our next issue, so please feel free to contribute your news or just share the story of where life has taken you. We continue to love to watch you blossom! To submit something for the next newsletter, you can email us at redrosealum@gmail.com.
Staying Connected
We do not want to lose our Red Rose family members because of old or missing information. If you are receiving this via social media, a friend or even a parent’s email address, please email redrosealum@gmail.comwith your current email address so we can update our records.
Also check out Alumni Corner – Red Rose Children’s Choir of Lake County, a part of our ongoing effort to keep the Red Rose family connected. We look forward to enhancing it with your news and developments over time.