csamemberhappenings

CSA member happenings

Besides the items listed below, check out other CSA members' web sites for their latest schedules, projects, recordings, and accomplishments.

Current member news is also posted at the members-only CSA e-group CTSongs Cafe, and in the Connecticut Songsmith Newsletter.

	2008
	2008 -- Bill Pere at the CONNECTICUT SONGWRITING ACADEMY continues a special for CSA members in 2008 First consultation for Midi, Recording, or Songwriting will include a 10% discount or a free hour of studio time. Just mention this notice. Producing excellence for 30 years.
	03-08 -- NAVIGATING THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE MUSIC BUSINESS : FACTS AND MYTHS - A 3-session course offered by Bill Pere through the Westerly Adult Education program. Mondays, March 17, 24, 31 7pm-9pm To register: http://wcee.westerlyps.org.

	2007
	2007 - Bill Pere at the CONNECTICUT SONGWRITING ACADEMY announces a special for CSA members in 2007. First consultation for Midi, Recording, or Songwriting will include a 10% discount or a free hour of studio time. Just mention this notice. Producing excellence for 30 years.
	06-07 - CSA members Larry Batter, Scott Sivakoff, Bill Pere, Kay Pere, and Amanda Sullivan perform at the Shubert Theater in New Haven, along with the original Harry Chapin Band and the LUNCH Ensemble in a benefit event for New Haven social services. The CSA group also made their 4th appearance at the long-running "Music For a Change" concert Series at the University of Hartford, performing "A Tribute to Harry Chapin"
	04-07 EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES FOR SONGWRITING AND THE MUSIC BUSINESS - A 2-session course offered by Bill Pere through the Westerly Adult Education program. Monday, April 22 and 29 http://wcee.westerlyps.org.
	02-07 - Bob Smith announces the release of a new CD "24 Hours", featuring 20 new tracks. Visit www.messages-songs.com.
	02-07 - Bill Pere releases his 15th CD, "Dare to Dream", a 2-disc collection of new material looking at all aspects of dreams, hopes, aspirations, and reaching for goals. www.billpere.com/recordings
	01-07 - Tom Callinan, Connecticut's 1st Troubadour, is celebrating his 30th year as a full time performing artist. He marks the occasion with the release of his 11th CD, "Call to Colors", the third part of his "American Heritage Trilogy", a culmination of 5 years pf researching classic patriotic songs and composing new songs with historical themes. For a complete description of this project and ordering info, visit www.crackerbarrel-ents.com/tom01.htm E-mail: info@crackerbarrel-ents.com
	2006
	2006 - Bill Pere was a featured workshop presenter at many national events throughout the year including the IMC in Philadelphia and Dallas, the CMEA conference in Hartford, the Seattle Songwriters in Washington, and Western CT State University. Several of Bill's songwriting articles were published in Songwriters Roundup, published by the Fort Worth Songwriters Association.
	06-06 Nancy Tucker's new CD, Escape of the Slinkys, has won a Parents' Choice Gold Award from the Parents' Choice Foundation as well as a Seal of Excellence from Creative Child Magazine. These are both national awards.
	06-06 VOICES FOR HOPE - Bill Pere and Kay Pere were industry judges for the finals of the Voices For Hope contest at the Bushnell in Hartford on June 3. The concert was sponsored by LUNCH and New Generations, and brought in entries from as far as Texas, raising almost $3,000 for programs providing food and shelter for those in need. The 10 winners included a student of CSA's Gale Gardiner and a student of Kay Pere. One of Don Donegan's students was a semi-finalist as well. The prizes included an appearance on stage with the cast of the show "Brooklyn the Musical" and opportunities to record and perform with the LUNCH Ensemble.
	05-06 SONGWRITING and the MUSIC BUSINESS - A 2-session course offered by Bill Pere through the Westerly Adult Education program. Monday, May 1 and May 8, 6-9pm.
	04-06 Joe Manning, former CSA president, and author of three books, has launched a new Web site called MorningsOnMapleStreet.com. The site is a collection of his articles, stories, commentary, poems, photos, and many more features. Readers will find over 70 articles and stories (with pictures), many of them from Manning�s "Bytes from the Bean" column he wrote about North Adams, Massachusetts from 1999 to 2004. Also included are articles he has written for newspapers and magazines about subjects such as family history, baseball, diners, music, radio, and small towns. There is a gallery with over 300 of Manning�s photographs, as well as poems and other excerpts from his latest book, "Gig at the Amtrak." Manning plans to add new articles and features periodically. Mornings On Maple Street can be found on the Web at www.morningsonmaplestreet.com
	3-06 THE WEST HARTFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA proudly announces a world premiere of the widely acclaimed symphony Symphony No.1 "Remembrance" by Albert Hurwit World Premiere March 5 and 6, 2006 For tickets and information: www.whso.org, telephone (860) 521 4362; www.alberthurwit.com Albert Hurwit was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1931. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Tufts Medical School. He retired from his medical practice in 1986 in order to dedicate his energies to composition.
	2-06 SONGWRITING COURSE - THE 10 SECRETS OF SUCCESS IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS. Offered Saturday, Feb 11 10-3pm, Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. The course is presented by CSA President and National Indie Artist of the Year Bill Pere. Register in Advance through WCSU at http://www.wcsu.edu
	2-06 CSA Songshares hosted by Ruth O'Neil at the Song-A-Day music Center in Coventry. Dates are Feb.12, April 9, October 13 and Dec. 10 Directions and Info: Call 860-742-6878 or e-mail songaday@hotmail.com.
	1-06 CSA's Peg D'Amato announces the release of her first CD "Your Voice", a collection of original inspirational songs, written by Peg and produced by Bill Pere. Visit http://www.pegdamato.com
	2005
	12-05 Bill Pere and Kay Pere were invited to the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City, to be recognized by World Hunger Year for their work with LUNCH. The event was a benefit concert for WHY, featuring the Chapin family.
	12-05 Eight CSA members: Bill Pere, Kay Pere, Scott Sivakoff, Larry Batter, Kat Wyand, Nicole Sullivan, Marcia Reinhard, and Joe Ferrara were part of a cast and crew of 40 at the 9 th annual LUNCH Holiday Show on Dec 3 to benefit social services. The show, an original musical play, was written and directed by Bill, who has written more than 2 dozen stage plays which have raised more than $400,000.
	12-05 Bob Levy has so far received 35 signed publishing contracts for his country and jazz songs. He recently got six co-publishing contracts from Bill Lucas, Sign Of The Ram Music, for them. Two of the songs, "What Were You Thinking?" and "What Are We Doing Here?" are going to be performed by three jazz artists around the country in their club acts. They are Lisa Bell, Loretta Cormier and Dane Vannatter. They all have several CD's out, so hopefully the songs will get recorded down the road. Dane is performing my song, "What Are We Doing Here?" to open his program. He's got a special Valentines Concert on February 11th. http://www.danevannatter.com called "Great Songs By Great Songwriters"
	12-05 CSA member Wendell Radke is promoting a CD titled The Traveling Cowboy. If anyone likes traditional or contemporary country music they can check out The Traveling Cowboy at http://www.musicplaces.com, click on ARTIST LISTINGS, then W, then Wendell Radke.
	05-05 Lifetime member and former CSA president Joe Manning announces the publication of his third book called "Gig at the Amtrak," a collection of his poetry. Award-winning author Elizabeth Winthrop says about the book: "Joe Manning weaves together his poetry with stories from old newspaper clippings to show us the human connections between days gone by and life as it is lived now in the coffee shops and train stations and along the riverbanks of small towns. His poems capture so perfectly the natural cadence and rhythms of everyday people, that we feel as if we are eavesdropping." Make check for $22.95 (includes shipping) payable to Joe Manning, and send to Flatiron Press, 575 Bridge Rd, Unit 9-1, Florence, MA 01062. Also see www.sevensteeples.com.
	05-05 CSA's Kay Pere received a standing ovation at the conclusion of her CD release concert for her Nashville-recorded CD "Even Better Than Chocolate". Accompanying Kay was Grammy Award winner and CSA member Michael Hopkins on bass, Immie-Award winner and CSA President Bill Pere on guitar, and CSA member Melody Pere on guitar/percussion. www.kaypere.com
	04-05 CSA members were out in full force to put on a tremendous concert at the University of Hartford on April 8. Scott Sivakoff, Larry Batter, Kay Pere, Bill Pere, Kat Wyand, and an Ensemble of 20 received a long standing ovation for their Harry Chapin Tribute Show. LUNCH received a donation of $2,200 from the Hard Rock Cafe. The event was attended by Mike Grayeb, a Director of World Hunger Year.
	04-05 - Roy O'Neil just received notification that his song "Sunshine Intruder" received a Top 100 Honor Award in the 2004 Great American Song Contest.
	04-05 Alby Hurwit has had one of his Symphony's recorded and released by the Klezmer Band, Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Lankaster. Symphony No. 1 "Remembrance" is the composer's family history, as reflected in the Movement titles. This symphony is a remembrance to all who have paved the road to freedom. For centuries, the persecution of various ethnic groups has forced younger generations to separate from their elders and seek safety and freedom in foreign lands. Despite differences in historical circumstances, the tragedies and triumphs of the experience are essentially the same. It is the story of untold numbers of families. It is the story of this symphony. For more see http://www.alberthurwit.com
	03-05 Bill Pere is invited to be a music career panelist at University of Connecticut, on March 21.
	02-05 `Jack Kavanaugh will be performing with Second Circle March 5 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in New London, and April 23 at The Sounding Board Coffee House im West Hartford. For details or directions, visit http://www.second-circle.com.`
	02-05 Kay Pere has been receiving airplay on WCNI 90.9 from 2 CD's -- "Even Better Than Chocolate " and "Profiles of Connecticut".
	2004
	12-04 Eight CSA members: Bill Pere, Kay Pere, Scott Sivakoff, Larry Batter, Kat Wyand, Nicole Sullivan, Clarisse Clemens, and Marcia Reinhard were part of a cast and crew of 40 at the 8th annual LUNCH Holiday Show on Dec 11 to benefit social services. The show, an original musical play, was written and directed by Bill, who has written more than 2 dozen stage plays which have raised more than $350,000.
	11-04 Roy O'Neil played at the opening of the renovated Palace Theater in Waterbury on November 14. He was one of 40 local performers who participated in the Community Day celebration of the new theater. About 7,000 people visited the several venues and events at the theater. Roy's song "Meet Me At The Palace" got repeated air play on WATR radio the week leading up to the opening.
	11-04 Tennessee Songwriters Association International's 2004 Songwriter of the Year Bill Flowerree's co-written (with Sue Fabisch and Jesse Goldberg) ode to family planning, "The Vasectomy Song," is on Kacey Jones's latest release. The album also includes both a live AND a studio version of "Waitin' for the Guy to Die"
	11-04 : Bob Levy just signed a publishing contract with Walker Publishing, LLC, ASCAP, in Alabama for his country song, "A Real Wise Woman". Gary Walker is partners with Nashville songwriter/producer Charlie Craig. He wanted to feature it with other writers he has under contract. This , brings Bob's total to twenty-four contracts for the year.
	11-04: Kay Pere will be performing several concerts in the L.A. area in October-November, and attending the FARWest Folk Alliance Concert. Kay has also produced a major benefit concert for some West Coast charitable organizations, giving CSA's LUNCH program a coast-to-coast outreach.
	11-04 CSA members Jack Kavanaugh, with his Band "Second Circle", and CSA's Vicki Baker, along with Tim St Jean, will be performing at Mystic River Folk on Friday, November 12, 7:30 pm Union Baptist Church, Mystic.
	9-04 : CSA Life Member Nancy Tucker was named Indie Artist of the Year for 2004 at the national conference in Philadelphia on Sept 2. (photos on line on the CSA photo page). Bill and Kay Pere performed at the Immie Awards ceremonies and Bill presented a workshop, so CSA was well represented. Bill and Kay will be representing CSA at the NERFA Conference in November.
	9-04 Bill Pere has 7 songs in the top 10 across three charts on the Artist Launch internet radio network, including #1, 3 and 4 in the folk genre. You can go to http://www.ArtistLaunch.com put in Bill's name and play his songs.
	9-04 Roy O'Neil has recently signed two songs with Nashville publisher, Next #1 Music Group. The songs are "I Want To Be Your Rockabye Baby" and "Eagles & Anchors & Snakes". . Songs are being actively pitched to major label artists. Another song "The Widow Mrs. West" recently got air play on WATR radio, which has a Saturday morning show called "Saddle Pals" featuring cowboy songs. These songs all benefitted from CSA critiques. Roy will be performing live at Waterbury's Brass Ball Music Festival scheduled for September 18 in Library Park
	9-04 Kay Pere, premiered her new CD "Even Better than Chocolate" at the Indie Music Conference in Philadelphia. The CD was produced by grammy-award winner Michael Hopkins, who was a CSA speaker this year. The songs are on line at Artist Launch.com