Symphony of Soul has teamed up with Wines.com to create a wonderful wine program to benefit our wonderful organization. 20% of ALL wine sales from the Symphony of Soul Collection will be donated to our organization.

* 6 beautiful hand selected wines each with unique artist designed labels
* 20% off all wine only sales will be donated to Symphony of Soul from wines.com/symphonyofsoul

* a fabulous personal or corporate gift or addition to your own wine collection.

 

Symphony of Soul is currently in the process of teaming up with some of the wonderful musicians on our roster to put together our first compilation CD.  We are putting this CD together with the guidance and expertise of our Advisory Board members Bill Ham, Dave Brichler and David Dickinson from Lone Wolf Management Company, along with Peter Bay of the Austin Symphony.  We anticipate a release of the CD in the fall of 2010 and encourage you to check back often with us to be informed of the latest updates.

 

We will be doing a CD release party at the FABULOUS Antone's in downtown Austin, Texas. Antone's Nightclub, the first club on 6th street, opened its doors in the summer of 1975 with the great Clifton Chenier. The venue, now located at the corner of 5th and Lavaca Street, was founded by legendary promoter Clifford Antone and has hosted such blues "greats" as Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Pinetop Perkins, James Cotton and countless others.

Antone's has helped launch the careers of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Los Lonely Boys, Ian Moore, and Bob Schneider just to name a few.

The stage at Antone's Nightcub has been graced by everyone from Bono & The Edge of U2, to Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, to Eric Clapton, to Dwight Yoakam to Bruce Willis and Elvis Costello.

This legendary venue has won countless awards, including numerous Austin Music Awards, as well as being named Nightclub of the Year by USA Today and the W.C. Handy Awards.

In July of 2009, Antone's Nightclub will celebrate its 34th Anniversary and is undeniably a major reason that Austin, Texas is considered The Live Music Captial of the World.

The venue is open to all ages and continues to offer unforgettable live music experiences as well as everlasting and powerful memories for everyone - both music lovers and the musicians themselves.

We so APPRECIATE the generosity of Susan Antone for making this possible.

 www.antones.net

Symphony of Soul is only able to exist with help from people like you. A contribution of $100 provides a live musical performance by ONE musician for ONE hour in a care facility. Symphony of Soul performances occur in  the lobby, cafeteria, hospital ward or activity room of an institution, these intimate concerts serve groups ranging in size from 5 to 50 people or more. The experience of sharing in the music is heartwarming and uplifting, both for the musicians and for the audience. Symphony of Soul is proud to have served over 30 institutions in Central Texas

 

Symphony of Soul and Brick Oven on 35th street hosted a wonderful ITALIAN WINE DINNER in February. We sold the event out and had a wonderful time. A DELICIOUS 5 course dinner was prepared by Jay Mcbride and his staff at Brick Oven on 35th.com and STELLAR wines were furnished by Mr. Jacques Fuselier and Joel Morales of Republic Distributors.

A GREAT TIME was had by all, Wine, Fabulous Food, Silent Auction and the BEAUTIFUL Music of Christian Fernandez and friends........how could it not be wonderful !

to be invited to our next BENEFIT Dinner CLICK HERE and let us know

 

 

Dear Friends,

 

It has been ten years since the birth of Symphony of Soul.  I marvel that this little seedling sprouted into something so very precious and that it continues to grow and thrive.  For those of you who are new to the Symphony of Soul family, I welcome you.  For those of you who are already part of the family, I thank you for your ongoing support of our mission.  My heart flows with gratitude for each and every one of you as I reflect upon our journey together...

 

"Les, I'm so terrified.  Would you sing to me?  Perhaps it might make me feel better if you'd sing to me."

 

Ten years ago I sat at my mother's bedside at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.  My heart broke to hear such fear in her voice.  How could I refuse her request?  With my eyes closed, I softly sang prayerful words and melodies to comfort Mom.  I opened my eyes to discover that the nurse had opened the door to the room and the other cancer patients on the ward had gotten out of their beds and were standing in the doorway listening.

 

In that moment, Symphony of Soul was born.

 

Inspired by my experience at MD Anderson Cancer Center, I founded Symphony of Soul as a volunteer in the year 2000. I created the organization as a means of serving two groups of people: my fellow artists and individuals who are confined to institutions. Well acquainted with the struggles and successes of a life in show business, I wanted to create an opportunity for local artists that would allow them to share their gifts with others in a meaningful and dignified manner while also receiving extra income to support their craft.  I noted an untapped market in hospitals, shelters, rehab centers, retirement homes and other institutions where people are feeling lonely, fearful, isolated and depressed and greatly in need of the healing that music can provide.

 

In the beginning, I gave most of the presentations on a volunteer basis, while tapping into my personal finances in order to pay my pianist to accompany me.  In the lobby, cafeteria, hospital ward or activity room of an institution, I presented an hour-long vocal concert that infused a mixture of show tunes, spirituals, classical and folk music with a dose of humor thrown in for good measure.  With every concert that I gave, I noted the positive response from the audience and the obvious hunger for music in the lives of those who are confined to institutions. 

 

In 2003, I invited other musicians to join the Symphony of Soul family. Since that time, Symphony of Soul has steadily grown to include a roster of more than 40 professional musicians of all musical genres - classical, jazz, blues, rock 'n roll and more.  We have been privileged to serve a diverse client base of more than 34 institutions in Central Texas ranging from cancer treatment centers to children's shelters to nursing homes to hospice facilities.

 

Over the years, I have been deeply moved by the experience of singing on behalf of Symphony of Soul for our clients, most especially those with Alzheimer's disease.  Our friends with Alzheimer's may not remember the names of their own beloved family members but they will remember songs from the "good ol' days".  What a privilege it is when they chime in, clapping their hands, tapping their feet and singing along!  For those few precious moments, the light is in their eyes and they are in the present moment, no longer shrouded behind the veil of forgetfulness. 

 

I didn't know it at the time, but it seems that during those performances over the years, God has been preparing me to handle Alzheimer's in an up close and personal fashion.  Though my own sweet mother survived the cancer ten years ago, she is now in the late stages of Alzheimer's.  My beloved Mama, the one who inspired the very birth of Symphony of Soul, is now a cherished client.  How thankful I am to have this means of staying connected to her!  It is my heartfelt desire to see Symphony of Soul thrive well beyond my years as an ongoing channel for healing and connection for our musicians and our clients, and as a lasting legacy to my mother. 

 

Without you, dear friends, none of this would be possible.  It is your love and care - your participation in the Symphony of Soul family - that has helped this seedling sprout and grow.  For you, my dear friends, I am most thankful.

 

With blessings and appreciation,

 

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