If you take a flutist who graduates from Houston’s Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine, throw in extensive private education in music and degrees in biology, English literature, medicine and surgery; combined with global music experience, if very fortunate, you might find Dr. Nora Suggs. Dr. Suggs is now the Artistic Director of the Chamber Music ensemble SATORI. SATORI is celebrating its 20th Anniversary Season in 2015-2016.
 
Nora is well known to many of our members and we were honored to have her provide an update on the “Artists-In-Residence” project for which SATORI is the recipient of a Morning Star Rotary Community Development Grant. This project is at the Governor Wolf Elementary school.  About 75 students are in the music programs and all students are reached through in-school grade-specific (K-5) programs. The musicians love the direct interaction with the students and are really able to get ‘up close and personal’ with each other.
 
 
 
The Artists-In-Residence project is one element of the BRAVO! Music Educational outreach –
  • Gift of Music instrument donation project where over 534 total musical instruments have been donated to 51 schools, valued at over $115,000.
  • In-school chamber music programs scheduled throughout the academic year which has reached over 8,000 children to date.
  • Annual Student Performance Competition – over 11 student chamber music competitions.
The question was asked if there was any impact in childrens’ academic performance attributable to music. Dr. Suggs sited studies which clearly indicated a very positive impact on students who participate in music which carries directly into their academic achievements.
For more information on SATORI and schedules of their performances please visit their website: www.satori-chambermusic.org.
 
NOTE: SATORI will once again play for our Taste of Tuscany Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser on May 6!

 
Congratulations to Abby Burnett who finished in second place at the Regional Four Way Test Speech Contest last Saturday. The contestants all did a fantastic job. As Ben Tenaglia reported, “Glad I was not a judge.”

 
March 24 for PART 2 at Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering!
Morning Star Rotary will provide dinner at Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering at the Church of the Nativity again on March 24. Response has been strong, but there is always room for more volunteers. Contact Janet Kolepp agjanetk@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!

 
This Week’s Meeting
Please join us on March 24th when John Oesmann will present his classification talk. We all look forward to hearing from John and appreciate his great Morning Star Rotary enthusiasm!
If you would like to learn more about either Bethlehem Morning Star or Rotary International, please contact Ron Searfoss at rsearfos@ptd.net or 610-504-1460.
   
Be a gift to your world!
President Ron