Past performances by the choir:
2015
January 31-February 8: Ubuntu Choirs Network/Community Choir Leadership Training (CCLT) Retreat
Sara awarded an Arrowhead Regional Arts Grant to attend & present. Victoria, B.C.
February 6, 7:30pm, "Sing Out!" Concert, Church of Truth, Victoria, B.C., Canada
Sara performed along with other Community Choir Leadership Training grads. An Ubuntu Choirs Network event.
March 27, Echoes of Peace Choir sings at Temple Israel, Duluth, MN
Thanks to Temple Israel for providing practice space for our spring 2015 season!!
April 25, "To My Old Brown Earth" Echoes of Peace Choir Concert, Duluth
With guest artist Ariane Norrgard, and Kako's Choir, Sacred Heart Music Center, 201 W 4th St.
May 31, "Music for All" Benefit for the Kako Foundation, Peace Church, Duluth
With Rudy Perrault, Elizabeth Nordell, Sara Thomsen, Echoes of Peace Choir, Rachael Kilgour, Kako's Choir, DJ Mouse and more. Hors d'oeuvres and dancing to follow! 1111 N. 11th Ave E, Duluth.
June 28, Echoes of Peace Choir performs at Classical MPR's Harmony in the Park Event
Also featuring Twin Ports Choral Project and Lake Superior Youth Chorus. Leif Erikson Park, Duluth
Thanks to First Lutheran for providing practice space for our summer 2015 session!
2014
March 29, Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial Annual Dinner, Greysolon Ballroom, Duluth, MN
Sara with the Echoes of Peace Choir leading song as part of the evening program.
April 27, 4pm, "A Place to Call Home" Echoes of Peace Concert, Sacred Heart Music Center, Duluth
Song, Poetry, Story on homelessness and the quest to find home. Echoes of Peace Choir directed by Sara with special guests Charlie Parr, Rachael Kilgour, Kako's Choir.
May 31, 7pm, "Music For All" Benefit for the Kako Foundation, Peace Church, Duluth, MN
The program will feature Echoes of Peace Choir, Rudy Perrault, Director of Orchestras at University of Minnesota Duluth, Elizabeth Nordell, storyteller, Kako's Choir and friends!
June 15, 4pm, Classical MPR's "Harmony in the Park" choral event, Leif Erikson Park, Duluth
Featuring Echoes of Peace Choir, the Twin Ports Choral Project and Lake Superior Youth Chorus!
September 21, International Day of Peace, Peace Bell Ringing, Japanese Garden at Enger Park, Duluth
Echoes of Peace Choir sings as part of the ceremony. A Duluth Sister Cities International event.
October 11, 4pm, "Supper and Song" Benefit for Kurdish Refugee Crisis, Duluth, MN
Song led by Sara with Echoes of Peace Choir. Held at Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 835 W College St.
October 12, 2pm, Echoes of Peace Choir sings for Essentia Health's Hospice Memorial Service, Duluth, MN
October 25, Erin Aldridge "It's My Recital and I'll Sing if I Want To", Sacred Heart Music Center, Duluth
A benefit for Echoes of Peace. Violinist Erin Aldridge will share classical and other genres --rock, folk, americana and more-- that have influenced her love of music. Guests include Beth Gilbert, pianist, Sara Thomsen & Paula Pedersen.
November 18, Echoes of Peace Choir concert, St. Louis County Jail, Duluth
November 20, 7pm, "Land of Plenty" DVD Release, The Underground (at the Depot), Duluth
506 W Michigan Street. Showing of the DVD of "Land of Plenty: How Did You Come to Be Here?".
December 13, 7:00pm, Annual CHUM Holiday Concert, Hope United Methodist Church, Duluth, MN
301 West St. Marie St, Duluth. Echoes of Peace Choir will be one of several musical guests.
December 16, 3:30pm, Echoes of Peace Choir concert at Woodland Hills youth center, Duluth, MN
2013
February 8, Kurdish Dinner Fundraiser for Echoes of Peace Singing Delegation, Duluth
Silent auction and dinner. Benefit for delegation to Rania, Iraqi Kurdistan (March 15-24).
March 6, Sara Thomsen Songleading at Empathy Project Conference, University of Minnesota-Duluth
March 15-24, Echoes of Peace/Duluth-Rania Friendship Exchange Singing Delegation
Sara co-leading delegation to Rania (& other cities) in Iraqi Kurdistan.
April 21, "The Flowering of Friendship" Echoes of Peace Choir Concert, Sacred Heart Music Center, Duluth
Special guests the Kako Choir. Proceeds to benefit the Duluth-Rania Friendship Exchange Project.
November 17, "Carry It On: Remembering 1963" Echoes of Peace Concert, Sacred Heart Music Center, Duluth
Special guest Stephan Witherspoon, the Kako Choir. Proceeds to benefit the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative.
2012
April 22, "You Are My Other Me" Echoes of Peace Choir's 10th Anniversary Performance
Sacred Heart Music Center, Duluth. Proceeds to benefit Grant-Nettleton Community School Collaborative.
May 11, EOP sings at Quilted Peace Labyrinth Dedication, Duluth, MN
Echoes of Peace Choir to sing as part of program opening the labyrinth exhibit.
May 23, Echoes of Peace Choir Concert, St. Louis County Jail, Duluth
September 14, Echoes of Peace Choir sings at public welcome to Rania, Iraqi Kurdisan delegation, Duluth
Green Room @ Library. Duluth-Rania (Iraqi Kurdistan) Friendship Exchange Project
October 8, "Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope" Conference, DECC Auditorium, Duluth
Sara Thomsen & Echoes of Peace Choir performs opening welcome prior to Keynote by Joan Chittister. St. Louis County Human Services Conference, Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center
November 1, Echoes of Peace Choir sings at All Souls Night, The Depot, Duluth
November 3, Sara Thomsen Singing Workshop, Rockhaven Ecozoic Center, House Springs, MO
www.rockhavencenter.org
November 10, "The Book of Love" Echoes of Peace Choir Concert, Sacred Heart Music Center, Duluth
Proceeds to benefit Together For Youth, LGBT support group
2011
Pastures of Plenty: Reflections on Immigration in Word and Song. April 3, Sacred Heart Music Center. Guest artist Sarah M. Greer (www.sarahmgreer.com). Proceeds to benefit Latino Voice (of Duluth) and Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network.
The Men as Peacemakers’ annual Celebration of Peacemakers event, April 7, Peace Church. The choir performed for this event that honors those whose personal actions make our community a safer and healthier place to live.
Northland Standing Together: Community Observance and Ceremony, Remembering 9/11/01. September 11, DECC Auditorium, Duluth.
Family History Day, October 15, Duluth Public Library. Twin Ports Genealogical Society's 40th Anniversary.
Land of Plenty: How Did You Come to Be Here? November 11 and 12, Marshall Performing Arts Center, University of Minnesota Duluth. Written by Sara Thomsen, Directed by Tom Isbell, presented by the UMD Diversity Commission. Guest artists Sarah M. Greer, Regina M. Laroche, Lyz Jaakola, Michael Laughing Fox Charette and more. A collaboration of UMD and community artists, musicians, singers, actors, poets.
2010
With You, Haiti Cherie Concert, February 3, Mitchell Auditorium, Duluth. A community-wide benefit concert to raise money for relief efforts in Haiti hosted by The College of St. Scholastica. Headline guest artist Bonga and the Vodou Drums of Haiti. Local artists: Echoes of Peace Choir, First Lutheran Church Choir, St. Scholastica Hand Drum Ensemble.
Bless Everything: Echoes of Peace Choir Concert, March 25, Weber Music Hall, Duluth. Special guests Rudy Perrault and Ryan Frane. Benefit for the KAKO Foundation.
Duluth Sister Cities Event, Enger Park, Duluth, August 20. Echoes of Peace Choir sings at celebration and dedication of the newly remodeled Japanese Peace Garden, honoring the 20 year anniversary of Duluth's sister city relationship with Ohara-Isumi City, Japan.
Open the Window: EOP Fall 2010 concert, November 14, Weber Music Hall, Duluth. Special guest artist was Elise Witt, from Atlanta, GA (www.elisewitt.com). Benefit for UNICEF's flood relief program in Pakistan. The concert was sponsored in part by the UMD Muslim Student Association.
2009
All My Life's A Circle: Echoes of Peace Choir Fall Concert, November 8, Weber Music Hall, Duluth. Special guests Lyz Jaakola, The Anishinaabe Youth Chorus, and Oshkii Ghiizhik Singers. Benefit for Mending the Sacred Hoop.
Beauty and Tenacity: Echoes of Peace Choir Spring Concert, April 26, Weber Music Hall, Duluth. Special guests Rachel Nelson (www.bardlive.com), Master drummer from Haiti Welele, and local poets Yvonne Rutford and Deborah Cooper. A Benefit for the Duluth-Rania (Iraq) Friendship Exchange. May 2 the concert (minus the special guests) was performed at the St. Louis County Jail.
Concert at St. Louis County Jail, June 3, Duluth, MN.
Be Like A Bird: Summer Season June 2009. Lafayette Community Center, Park Point, Duluth, MN.
A month of singing songs all about birds!
2008
Sara's "Everything Changes" CD Release Concert, February 17, Marshall School Auditorium, Duluth
Community: Build It! Vocalize It! Harmonize It! February 28, Sacred Heart Music Center, Duluth
An evening of music, spoken word, culture and community buiilding with guest speaker Okokon Udo and local artists: mn mantra, Sara Thomsen, and Echoes of Peace Choir.
Dreams of Harmony: Echoes of Peace Choir Spring Concert, April 10, Sacred Heart Music Center, Duluth
A Benefit for LSS Young Parent Program.
Pax Christi Minnesota State Assembly, September 27, College of St. Scholastica, Duluth
We Shall Not Give Up: Echoes of Peace Choir Fall Concert, November 16, Mitchell Auditorium, Duluth
With guests Elizabeth Nordell, storyteller, Rudy Perrault, violinist, Ryan Frane, pianist, and Three Altos
A benefit for the KAKO Foundation's "Music For All" project in Haiti.
2007
Echoes of Peace Choir Concert with guests Minnesota Mantra, March 25, Mitchell Auditorium, Duluth
Benefit for CHUM's Food Shelf and Gabriel Project
Farmers Take the Stage, March 29, Peace Church, Duluth
Benefit for the Lake Superior Chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association
6th Annual Annual Art of Peace, April 13-15, in collaboration with Harbor City High School Students and the 4th Annual Free Democracy Summit
Men as Peacemakers annual Community Peacemakers Awards, April 22, Mitchell Auditorium, CSS
Two Harbors Folk Festival, July 29, Two Harbors, MN. In preparation, we met for our second summer season June 26-July 24.
Echoes of Peace Choir Fall Concert with guest Teague Alexy, November 8, Weber Music Hall, UMD.
Benefit for the Northern Communities Land Trust
2006
Fifth Annual Art of Peace event, Evening Performance and Afternoon Workshop, March 11, First United Methodist Church, Duluth
Music as Resistance, May 4, YWCA, Duluth
College for Seniors, May 16, Somers Lounge, College of St. Scholastica, Duluth
Summer choir season June - mid July 2006. Our first summer season!
Juneteenth Celebration, June 17, Central Hillside Community Center, Duluth
GLBT Civil Rights Rally, June 29, Choir and Three Altos, Federal Bulding, Duluth
Eyes Wide Open Exhibit, July 5, Leif Ericson Park, Duluth
Parade of Nations, July 21, Downtown Duluth
Festival of Cultures, July 22, Bayfront Park, Duluth
Gabriel Project Fundraiser, St. Scholastica Monastery, Duluth
Choir Fall Benefit Concert, October 29, Mitchell Auditorium, College of St. Scholastica, Duluth
With Sara, Rachael Kilgour, Kathy McTavish (cellist), Ellie Schoenfeld (poet) and Elizabeth Nordell (storyteller).
Benefit concert for School of Americas Watch.
2005
Fourth annual Art of Peace event, Evening Performance, March 12, Marshall School Auditorium, Duluth
Songs: "The Beauty of the Dancer" (S. Thomsen), "Busy, Busy, Busy" (S. Boynton & M. Ford), "Mahatma" (D. Marshall), "Dark of the Moon" (K. Beth), "Hope" (Y. M. Barnwell), "Deep Peace" (B. Douglas), "Gabi, Gabi" (S. African Freedom Song)
Spiritualities of Peace Conference, Mitchell Auditorium, College of St. Scholastica, Duluth
Critical Thinking Conference, June 30, Northland College, Ashland, WI
Choir's first annual fall benefit concert, November 13, Weber Music Hall, UMD, Duluth
With guest performances by Sara, Three Altos, Rachael Kilgour (her debut!), Peter Provost, Elizabeth Nordell (storyteller) Our first fall season! We met mid October-mid November. Benefit concert for School of Americas Watch.
Holiday Concert at the Jail, Dec. 16, St. Louis County Jail, Duluth, MN
2004
Third annual Art of Peace event , Evening Performance, March 27, First United Methodist Church, Duluth
Songs: "Turn the World Around" (H. Belafonte), "Harriet Tubman" (W. Robinson), "Voices" (H. Near), "Dreams of Harmony" (J. Hammil), "Not Be Afraid" (H. Petersen), "Potter's Wheel" (B. Danoff), "Freedom Is Coming" (S. African Freedom Song), "I Have A Million Nightingales" (L. Hirschorn), "Freedom" (Ellis).
SOAW Benefit Concert, November, UWS, Superior WI. With Sara, Jerree Small, and choir.
2003
Second annual Art of Peace: Evening Performance, March 22, First United Methodist Church, Duluth
Songs: "We Are the Ones" (Sweet Honey), "Freedom Song" (S. Thomsen), "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream" (E. McCurdy)
2002
First annual Art of Peace event , Evening Performance, March 23, First United Methodist Church, Duluth
Songs: "Song of Peace (Finlandia)" and "By Breath" (S. Thomsen). Our very first gatherings in preparation for the first Art of Peace event. We were 17 voices that first year!