Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeanie Peter.
Hi Jeanie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello, I’m, Jeanie Peter, president of the Forest-Aires Women’s Chorus. We were founded in 1962 by Sylvia Gilchrist. She gathered Forest Hills PTA moms to rehearse and perform popular choral music for the sheer joy of singing. Over the years, women from the Greater Cincinnati area have joined the group. In a short time after its founding, the chorus was able to raise money from performances to donate to the music program in the Forest Hills Schools. After donating funds for equipment, the chorus was then able to raise enough money to start The Forest-Aires Scholarship Program to fund voice lessons for high school students. That program is still in existence and The Forest-Aires has awarded voice scholarships to more than 300 high school students.
Before 1962, the chorus was known as the Mother Singers. A newspaper printed a typographical error, headlining the chorus as the “Mother Sinners.” At that point, the ladies decided to change the group’s name to The Forest-Aires Women’s Chorus.
The objective of The Forest-Aires scholarships is to enrich the lives of local students through music, deepen the music learning they receive at school, and help prepare them for advanced study or music performance if they choose. Through these scholarships, they learn not only singing, but also discipline, mental training, great satisfaction in achieving a goal, and skills needed to appear before an audience. Scholarship winners perform in schools, community shows, churches, and community theatre. Many of them study music and theatre in college, and then onto careers in music and entertainment.
Founded 1962. 2002-2003 Civic Organization of the Year, Anderson Township.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The years 2020 and 2021 were difficult times because of the Coronavirus pandemic that struck our communities and neighborhoods. It was necessary to shut down and cancel The Forest-Aires Women’s Chorus activities and performances.
We hunkered down and waited through this terrible time. Now the 2022- 2023 season is a refreshing new start! We are preparing for a wonderful and exciting show for our spring ENCORE! production, “Saturday Night Fever, Catch It!”
As you know, we’re big fans of The Forest-Aires Women’s Chorus. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Mission Statement Where Music and Harmony Come Alive!
The Forest-Aires Women’s Chorus provides students in our community with an enriched educational experience through the study and performance of choral music. The chorus endeavors to pass on musical, social, and leadership skills that build self-esteem and have a sustaining impact on its members and the community. Representing and serving the community as an artistic and cultural resource are fundamental to the Chorus’ mission.
Our Directors Include:
Sylvia Gilchrist: 1962 – 1971; Gail Hurst: 1971 – 1973; Helen Houran: 1973 – 1978
Wylene Davies: 1978 – 1980; Judy Busse: 1980 – 1982; Bob McSpadden 1982 – 1984
Judi Franceschina 1984 – 1992; Robert Dominique 1992 – 1994; Jennifer Williams 1994 – 1995
Ruth Shawver 1995 – 2005; Paul Bledsoe 2005 – 2014; Alex Gartner 2014 – 2016,
Sujin Kim 2016 – 2022
Dr. Sujin Kim is excited to continue as director of the Forest-Aires Women’s Chorus and artistic director of the chorus’s spring show production, ENCORE! She has a Doctorate (DMA) in piano performance at the College-Conservatory of Music where she received a full scholarship to study piano with Michael Chertock. She holds a master’s degree in piano performance from CCM. Ms. Kim has found her love and passion in choral music. She has worked as an accompanist with various choirs, including the CCM Chorale, Chamber Choir UC Women’s Chorus, Cincinnati Camerata, and Vocal Arts Ensemble. In addition to directing The Forest-Aires Women’s Chorus, she also serves as the director of music and organist at Sycamore Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati.
The objective of The Forest-Aires scholarships is to enrich the lives of local students through music, deepen the music learning they receive at school, and help prepare them for advanced study or music performance if they choose. Through these vocal scholarships, they learn not only singing, but also discipline, mental training, great satisfaction in achieving a goal, and skills needed to appear before an audience. You will see the scholarship winners performing in schools, community shows and theatres, and churches. Many of them study music and theatre in college and then, move on to careers in music.
Some of the Vocal Scholar Winners include:
Joyce Palmer, Jeff Pappas, Pete Buswinka Beth Fouts, Tina Luck, Trish Powers, Tina Achabal, Jon D.Campos, Phil Duncan; John W. Potter, Kathy E. Smith, Sally Wilfert, Laura Waldner, Rich Kimball, Shelly Bettle, Jennifer Harper, Krisi Stacey, Margaret Kraemer, Kristi Brookshire; Laura Backley, Heather, Anderson, Dustin Hard, Keri Blevins, Karen Justin, Gretchen Coleman, Susan Garee, Lisa Yund, Anne Bridgeman, Roxanne Brate, Darcie Gribler, Kara Johnson, Brad Price, Kathy Russell, Rob Wray Brent Vimtrup, Robyn Reddick, Eric Gray, Alyssa Runyan, Nate Lynch Susan Yund, Katie Falcon, Kelly Walls, Danielle Butcher, Heather Bradford, T.J. Plunk, Jaclyn Dima, Shayne Hesler, Kristin Conrad, Greg McElfresh, Karena Mortimer, Shayne Hesler (2), Kelly Walls (2), Will Cole, Brooke Rucidlo, Nanciann Strosnider, Meghan Heis, Jeanne Reinhold, Kristin Conrad, Michael Krantz, Jeanne Reinhold (2), Brittany Wheeler, Logan Bradford, Andrew Niebuhr, Megan Aylward, Brook Rucidlo (2), Bryan Young, Josh Rutledge, Kaitlyn Spicer, Nicki Re, Laura Kelly, Lauren Bloss, Madeline Purvis, Caitlin Brown, Stephanie Eldred, Andy Bare, Kaitlyn Spicer, Erin Hughes, Megan Bird, Ashley Brock, Julia Dopp, Bethany Jeffery, Brandon Ortiz, Laura Tully, Lauren Bridges, Clare Gebhardt, Annie Haskins, Sara Hook, Charlie Ingram, San Ivers, Sarah Hook (2), Clelsea Wirthlin, David Gordon-Johnson, Brandon Craig, Julianna Kluger, Ian McKee, Desmond Daly, Will Graber, David Michel, Maddie Pierce, Anna Randazzo, Anna Randazzo, Peter Brandt, Abby Dorsten, Blake Edmondson, Paul Linser, JoEllen Pellman, Katie Peters, Carol Armstrong, Brittany Armstrong, Daisy Bentley, Lauren Hust, Mary Clare Lyon, Maddie Pierce, Anna Randazzo (2), Paige Ambach, Brittany Armstrong (2), Daisy Bentley (2), Julianna Drambarean, Nicole Line, Diego Zagazeta, Page Ambach, Austin Laewona, JuliaDrambarean (2), Nella Schwanekamp, Katie Rufner, Gareth Evans, Kish Richardson, Lydia Noll, Emma Shelton, Sam Moody, Sam Owens (2), Augustus Corder, Alyssa Taylor, Audrey Button, Lydia Noll (2) Michael Day, Macy Addis, Micah Day, Andrew Farmer Nicholas Gundrum, Macy Addis Caroline Reckers.
Participating Schools of the Greater Cincinnati Area:
Turpin High School, Anderson High School, New Richmond High School, McNicholas High School, Amelia High School, Martin W. Essex School for the Gifted, Glen Este High School; St Ursula Academy, Walnut Hills High School, Withrow High School, West Clermont High School, Indian Hills High School, Miami Valley Christian School, Little Miami High School,
Choreographers Include:
Karen Oaks, Vickie Miller, Jerry Wiesenhahn, Kim Long, and Lisa Kamiki
Web Master and Web Management
Videographer and Photographer
Albert F. Peter, CEO, Retired
Structural Dynamics Research Corporation
2019 – 2020 Forest–Aires Women’s Chorus Board:
Jean P. Peter President and Executive Officer SDRC, Contract Administration, Retired
Gina Gerger Vice President Business
Lori Poston Treasurer Realtor
Liz Underwood Secretary RMS of Ohio, Support Associate, Retired
Shelley Buchannan Music Librarian RN, Retired
Vickie Miller Creative Chair Paralegal, Retired
JoAnn Merrill Creative Chair The Pointe of Indiana, Owner/President
Cas Cavanaugh Creative-at-Large DuPont, Retired
Dianna Lemma Creative-at-Large Retired
The Barbara Berner Costumes Chair University of Cincinnati, Retired
Diane Latham Costumes Chair Retired
Susan Ooten Hospitality Chair Business Accountant, Retired
Cindy Thomas Hospitality Chair Retired
The Barbara Berner Publicity Chair University of Cincinnati, Retired
Ellen Losee Facilities Chair Quest Diagnostics, Retired
Nancy Peters Facilities Chair Retired
Carol Armstrong Soprano Parts Chair Anderson Chiropractic
Sherilyn Schuchman Mezzo-soprano Parts Chair Retired
Vivian Banchy Contralto Parts Chair Education, Retired
Organization’s Effectiveness Based on Achievement of Program Goals:
Since 1962, The Forest-Aires Women’s Chorus has awarded over 300 vocal scholarships to deserving high school students of the greater Cincinnati area. As a measure of our reach into the greater Cincinnati community, we have had an average of twenty students each year auditioning for vocal scholarships, from which four students are chosen each year among high schools of the greater Cincinnati area.
How do we determine good measures of goals?
Measurement is essential to making cost-effective decisions. We strive to meet three key criteria in our measurement work: Is it meaningful? Is it credible? Is it practical?
Our choral performances are meaningful, credible, and practical consisting of approximately 10 -15 shows each year reaching an audience of more than 1500 persons across the greater Cincinnati area, and our grand finale stage show production, ENCORE!, reaches an additional audience of over 1000 persons each season.
For 60 years, we have been dedicated to enriching lives in Greater Cincinnati communities through the pursuit of musical excellence, support of music in our schools, sponsorship of singing activities for youth, and thrilling audiences and promoting the art of choral music through community performances.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Statement of Need What is the community benefit that this program or project will impart?
A community chorus, such as The Forest-Aires Women’s Chorus, draws its membership from the community at large and is not restricted to a single institution. Members can also apply to any community choir, professional or amateur, large or small, for all are engaged in the promotion of musical activities that enhance the community choral arts.
Making music together provides a sense of awe for both the observer and for the self. If one voice alone is amazing, a group of performers is more so.
What does that awe lead to? Research shows that this emotion engenders an enhanced sense of generosity and selflessness. It shifts our focus from our own narrow view to that of our common humanity and community. Persons with more “awe” in their lives prove to be more generous, more ethical, and more helpful towards others in the community. As we join with others in our community to create an awesome experience of great beauty, we begin to feel more comfortable and happier, thus becoming more productive citizens.
Since our formation in 1962, The Forest-Aires Women’s Chorus has sought to foster and communicate community spirit and is dedicated to enriching lives through the power of music and providing vocal scholarships to deserving students, while providing the community family-friendly entertainment with music, song, and harmony that come alive!
We benefit and enrich the lives of local high school students through music, deepen the music learning they receive at school, and help prepare them for advanced study or music performance, as some have chosen to do. Through our Scholarship program, students learn not only singing, but also discipline, mental training, great satisfaction in achieving a goal, and skills that need to appear before an audience. Many of our scholarship students perform in school, community shows and theater, and church. Often these students study music and theatre in college and then on to careers in music.
Scholarships:
- Scholarship Winners Receive $500 each
Contact Info:
- Website: http://theforestaires.com/
Image Credits
Albert F. Peter
