![\"concert-poster\"](\"http:\/\/2.schillermeet.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/concert-poster.jpg\")
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The chorus opened the concert with an arrangement of Beethoven\u2019s \u201cDie Himmel r\u00fchmen des Ewigen Ehre,\u201d (\u201cThe Heavens Praise the Glory of Eternity\u201d), after which conductor Megan Beets welcomed the audience, and emphasized that what we celebrate is an event of universal importance\u2014mankind\u2019s first step onto another planetary body, and its establishment as an extraterrestrial species. Humanity\u2019s upcoming return to the Moon with Project Artemis must be the beginning of a new era of our exploration and development of the solar system; one of optimism about our limitless potential for progress. In that context, she referenced NASA\u2019s recently retired Kepler Telescope, which in its 10 years of service surveyed 530,506 stars, and found 2,662 exoplanets, all within our galaxy. Think of the practically infinite potential for humanity\u2019s development given that there are 2 trillion galaxies in our universe! She concluded by telling those gathered that such progress in science must be accompanied by a return to a culture of beauty, which celebrates and advances the creative spark inherent in every individual.<\/span><\/p>\n The first half of the concert began with a poem written and recited by Paul Gallagher, \u201cThe Sensitive Plant on the Moon,\u201d followed by a number of solo offerings, including songs about<\/span> the moon and the heavens: \u201cSong to the Moon\u201d by Dvo\u0159\u00e1k, \u201cMondnacht\u201d (Moonlit Night) by Robert Schumann, \u201cMy Lord, What a Mornin\u2019\u201d arr. by H.T. Burleigh; a movement of Beethoven\u2019s Piano Sonata No. 14, known as the \u201cMoonlight Sonata\u201d; other offerings included \u201cDa, chas nastal\u201d by Tsaikovsky with text by Schiller, and a number of songs which have a relationship to mankind\u2019s exploration of space: \u201cGoin\u2019 Home\u201d the melody of which is from Dvo\u0159\u00e1k\u2019s \u201cNew World Symphony,\u201d which Neil Armstrong took to the Moon; the famous \u201cQueen of the Night\u201d aria from Mozart\u2019s Magic Flute,\u201d which has traveled 3.6 billion miles from Earth on the Voyager 1 and 2 Golden Records; and the first and fourth movements of Mozart\u2019s String Quartet No. 19 in C Major (\u201cDissonance\u201d) which opened Lyndon LaRouche\u2019s famous 1988 presidential campaign broadcast, \u201cThe Woman on Mars.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The second half of the concert featured the chorus and a small string ensemble performing Mozart\u2019s \u201cSolemn Vespers,\u201d K.339.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The audience was composed of a wide variety of people from all over the region\u2014from singers and musicians to community members looking for a way mark the Apollo 11 anniversary, to friends and family of chorus members. As a whole, the audience was clearly moved by both chorus and soloists. Two children, probably 7 and 9 years old, seemed bored and restless when they first arrived, however, much to their mother\u2019s amazement, as soon as the Queen of the Night aria began they sat up straight and were mesmerized by the performance. Many commented on the high level of the chorus, surprised that it is a community chorus, and expressed interest in joining. A local music teacher declared that she wants to recommend the chorus to her students. A regular member of the orchestra said that he was honored to play in the event.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Baritone](\"http:\/\/2.schillermeet.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/arron-leathers.jpg\")