Finah in Carolina....

October 20-24, 2010 Nothin’ Could Be Finah than to be at the nineteenth GEAR Rally in Winston-Salem, NC this year.

Many Maestros were fresh from Music Camp in Galax, VA the preceding week. A few more joined the group in Winston-Salem at the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds. New recruit Bruce Taylor could not stop with Music Camp and secured permission from his better half to dry camp with the Maestros for another week of music.



Yesterday Village, Dixie Classic Fairgrounds, Winston-Salem, NC



The opening rally performance was a late afternoon ice cream social.  Former chorus director Jim Bob Ealey and wife Mary delighted the crowd with his eloquent patriotic tribute.  

The Maestro chapter fair table entry left little doubt of the enthusiasm Maestros share for recruiting.  Wilma Ricketts, Nancy Reever and Kay Easton presented a very pretty display.  Unfortunately it did not catch the eye of the judges! 



Chapter Fair



                         







From Recently Updated

Morning Coffee Hour performances were Oct. 21-23…Thursday through Saturday. Director Charles Marston and President Dave Ricketts set the report time at 7:00 AM. Promptly downbeats fell at 7:30 AM. Folks gathered their donuts, coffee and morning papers to enjoy and linger for the morning Maestro Concert. Audience enthusiasm was large and appreciative. A first in GEAR history was a men’s chorus inspired by director Cynthia Lee. Guest conductor Sharon Jackson displayed many capabilities to produce music.

Maestros provided music for the Ladies Tea-Luncheon.  Listeners were treated to  flute by Cindy Peterson, Keyboard by Diane Berry, Bass by Sandy Martin, and drums by Linda Stark.  The pleasant sounds provided an appropriate background for the Red Hat affair.   

  Ladies Tea-Luncheon, Garden Center Building  

Tradition brought forth the Patriotic Tribute on the final morning.  In addition to the presentation of the service flags and the rising of audience members those present heard Jim Bob Ealey’s recitation on patriotism.  Emotions were stirred    From Collages

Everyone loves a parade.  When led by a marching Maestro Band decked in the traditional red and whites the tone of excitement was set.  “When the Saints Go Marching In” was the selected score as those marching paraded through the GEAR village and returned to the elevated gazebo.  From this perch the group played Sousa and invigorating tunes. 






And another thing…….Several business meetings were held to distribute chapter information.  A meal together followed one meeting.  




Frustrated Maestros are one of a kind with it comes to volunteerism.  GEAR Maestros arrived two days ahead for rehearsals before performances began on October 20, 2010.

The end of the rally came and Maestros were “back on the road again!”



Site of GEAR 2011







..."going places that I've never been...."