In This Issue:
Friday May 28th. 9pm - midnight
12387 Cedar Road
Cleveland Heights
Tel: 216-795-0550
Be sure to ask for your reservation to be in the music room. If you've not seen Nighttown since it's re fit it's definitely worth a visit.
Join Helen along with Theron Brown on piano and Bryan Thomas on bass. More info...
Book Helen
Private party, wedding, cabaret, theatre
If you would like to book Helen for your private party, wedding reception, wedding ceremony or corporate function...
We understand clients have different needs and different budgets so the size of the band is up to you. We can offer anything, from the most intimate of settings, using just piano and voice to the extravagant parties with an 18 piece big band and everything inbetween! It can be subtle dinner music, music for dancing or a concert performance. For inquiries, please contact Big Wow Productions on 330-592-2453 / email helen@helenwelch.com or DesRosiers Associates (Anne DesRosiers) on 216-541-0345 ext 2. More info...
Crossings
Saturday June 5th. 8.30pm - 11.30pm
329 East Garfield Road
Aurora
Come and join us in this wonderfully intimate space. I know many of you came for the first time when were there in May and enjoyed it - the owner enjoyed your company too as he commented on what nice people you all were!!
Dreen Ivy on keyboard and Bryan Thomas on bass. More info...
Forward to a Friend
|
A day I will never forget.
Gorgeous gorgeous weather everybody! Hope you're enjoying as much as I am?!
And I was certainly very lucky last Thursday when after days of rain the morning arrived bright and sunny for my trip to Jacob's Field.
I really want to share with you what was a very special day.
Now I have to be honest and say that although I was very much looking forward to singing the National Anthem at the Indians game and I knew what an honor it was.. I wasn't as excited as I have been for some of the other amazing experiences I've had since arriving in the U.S.A. Blossom for example was a big day for me and I was so excited I could hardly contain myelf.
So last Thursday arrived and I happily jumped in the car with Doug, Dad and Harry (Doug's Dad) and off we went to Cleveland. Nervous? not a bit. Just happy that it was warm and NOT raining and looking forward to the day.
We arrived at Jacob's Field and were met by our escort. First of all she took us all down to the field. Quite an experience for my Dad who has never even seen a baseball game let alone walk on the field! He was mightily impressed! Dad and Harry were then taken to their seats. Doug was allowed to stay and was armed with the new camera that Santa brought to him this past Xmas.
A very nice gentleman came over and asked me to do a sound check - of course, no one could hear it (not even me) apart from the sound man in the booth so I had no idea what to expect. The young man then gave me explicit instructions as to the order of events and told me my cue would be 'National Anthem' i.e that would be the last thing I would hear before I sang.
'Got it' I said and he left.
The noise in the stadium was unbelievably loud and I was trying very hard to focus and practice the anthem prior to walking on the field which is quite hard to do with 'don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me' blaring in the background!!! I paced ( which is what I do before i sing!) and realised that my adrenaline was beginning to pump.
The announcer told the crowd that the color guard were walking onto the field and inturn the crowd noise began to diminish. Then I was led to just by the home plate by the young man who had re appeared. He passed the microphone to me and left - I suddenly felt very alone!
The announcer then said 'please stand and remove your caps and welcome Helen Welch singing the NATIONAL ANTHEM!'
The stadium went silent....................I swear I could hear a pin drop - it was just amazing and all that I was aware of was the huge starts and stripes flag blowing in the warm breeze. I began to sing and my voice reverberated around the stadium. Only one hitch - the line I sang came round and hit me in the back of the head about 3 seconds later so I had to concentrate really really hard not to be distracted. I looked up at the flag and began to feel quite emotional. I started to think of the journey I had come on to be where I am today. The flights Doug and I made backwards and forwards from the UK to Cleveland. The visa paperwork (never ending amounts of it!), the interviews, the phonecalls, moving all my belongings, making new friends, the citizenship test and ................ I don't think I ever thought in my wildest dreams that I would be standing in that spot singing the National Anthem! I wanted to cry but new that would be just awful and luckily I had to concentrate so hard because of the delay in sound so that kept me focused
Suddenly I reached the last two lines 'Land of the free------ and the home of the brave' .........oh my goodness what a wonderful crowd response! I didn't know whether to bow, salute or jump in the air but I know I stood there for about 5 seconds just breathing it all in before I took two steps backwards and left the field. My heart was pumping out of my chest!
Doug was there to hold my shaking hands, my eyes were welled up as I said to him 'that is something i shall never ever forget'.
It took me an hour and 2 beers to calm down!
May I say how great it was to look up and see so many of your smiling faces waving and hooping and hollering - I'm so glad you were there to share the day with me - it made it extra extra special I can tell you.
Dad enjoyed himself although he said 'I still haven't got a clue what's going on' and 'in my opinion they need a bigger bat - that way they might hit it a bit more often!' ....ouch!!
Lots of love
Helen x More info...
[ Helen's calendar page ]
A winery you MUST experience!
Sunday June 6th. 4pm - 7pm
Gervasi
1700 55th St NE
Canton, OH 44721
Tel: 330-497-1000
Join us on the patio at this gorgeous new winery in Canton. You've not seen anything like it - believe me! Doug and I visited (all in the name of research you understand!!) and were blown away by this great new addition to Canton:-) There is nothing like it around Cleveland, Akron, kent and such - believe me we've been to a few wineries in the area.
No reservations are being taken and if for some reason all the chairs are taken you are welcome to bring a rug and sit on the grass.
If it rains we'll be inside which is just as lovely :-)
Click on their name (above) to visit their web site. More info...
[ Gervasi Website ]
|
