Singing mural!

A busy day today. Roger and I were doing double duty at church this morning - playing handbells in the Joyful Noise choir at first and third service, and singing as usual with the Chancel Choir at first and second service. Singing in the choir, we usually have to be at church for 8am, to practice before the 8.45 service. However, with bells, we first have to get the bells, tables, mats and covers up to the sanctuary from the basement practice room, so we have to be there for 7.30! The morning went well - the sanctuary is so beautiful this time of year, decorated with trees and poinsettias, and wreaths at the windows. At the end of the third service we have to take the bells back down to the practice room. Then it was back home for a quick lunch, before driving downtown to the Music Hall to hear the Messiah performed by the May Festival Chorus and the Cincinnati Symphony orchestra. Today's blip is taken from the multi story car park across from Music Hall of the mural on the side of the CET building - Cincinnati's local public television station. It was designed by illustrator and Cincinnati resident C.F. Payne, and depicts a "choir" of prominent people in the arts, locally and nationally. I wonder how many you can recognize?! This mural is one of the latest in the ArtWorks series of murals around the city. The mission of ArtWorks is to "connect artists of all ages with opportunities in the arts through inspiring apprenticeships, community partnerships and public art."

Top row (left to right): Philanthropist and Cincinnati arts patron Patricia Corbett, Sesame Street's Grover, the Phantom of the Opera, Sir Elton John, opera singer Beverly Sills, the artist himself, C. F. Payne in disguise as a Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra euphonium player, jazz singer Cab Calloway, Madame Butterfly, Johann Sebastian Bach

Bottom row (left to right): the Nutcracker, Leontyne Price as Aida, Cincinnati Pops Maestro Erich Kunzel, Music Hall's favorite Cincinnati police officer Al Staples, PBS icon Mr. Rogers, Pagliacci, Cincinnati broadcasting legend Ruth Lyons, a child representing the young people of Cincinnati, and finally Mr. Redlegs, the Cincinnati Reds (baseball team) mascot.

After the wonderful performance of the Messiah, it was back home to fit in a brisk walk around the neighborhood, before cooking us a roast pork dinner. Then, when I've finished posting this I've got to go back to the kitchen to bake something for Roger to take into work tomorrow - they're taking it in turns to take something in every morning, leading up the holidays!

One year ago: Winter walk