A hallmark of our stitching retreats has always been a night of entertainment included for our retreat attendees.
While we have occasionally had a lecture or presentation, the entertainment has most often taken the form of a concert. Throughout the many years we have been hosting A Stitcher's Retreat, we have had a number of musicians perform for attending stitchers. The below information is just a partial list. We will eventually add information about the others who have performed at our retreats.
Upcoming
Retreat
Previous
Retreats
Elise Turner, Soprano
Originally from Cincinnati, Elise is now a sophomore at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Elise is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance.
During high school she was active in musical theater in and around her hometown. Favorite performances include Johanna in Sweeney Todd; Laurey in Oklahoma!; Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street; Queen in Cinderella; Guys and Dolls; How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; Godspell; The Music Man; and The Sound of Music.
In 2005 Elise made her debut as a music director for a university production of Lady in the Dark. During the summer of 2006 she interned in music direction with Cincinnati's Jersey Productions, working on Godspell, Ragtime, and Cabaret.
Most recently, Elise was a featured soloist in Dayton's The Muse Machine's summer production, Encore!
Raison D'Etre
We were delighted to have a group new to our
retreats for the first time in 2004. Sisters Roberta Schultz and
Violet Rae Downey joined with good friend Vickie Riffe Ellis to form
the entertaining 
vocal
trio Raison D'Etre. A popular local group who sing a wide
variety of vocal styles in precise tight harmonies, Raison
D'Etre has released four CDs.
Excerpt from the Raison D'Etre web site:
Raison D'Etre is a musical trio from Northern Kentucky specializing in tight vocal harmonies, introspective original songs, and a performing repertoire including everything from Shaker to swing. Featuring Violet Rae Downey on vocals, guitar and percussion, Roberta Schultz on vocals, guitar and percussion, and Vickie Ellis on keyboards and vocals, the trio specializes in a three-part harmony blend that echoes such groups as the Roches, the Andrews Sisters and the Mills Brothers.
Tom
Scheidt
Tom is definitely a favorite of retreat attendees! He has performed at many of our retreats and always provides a rollicksome evening!
Tom sometimes refers to his concerts as a musical smorgasbord, a very apt description. Attendees have been treated over the years to songs and instrumentals from a wide variety of musical styles, from classic rock-n-roll to calypso to blues to Celtic and music from the British Isles! Tom closes all of his retreat performances with the bagpipes, but before that you see guitar and whistles and Celtic drums. His enthusiasm and hard work are evident in his performances.
While Tom's musical virtuosity is evident in his musical numbers, his love of life is even more evident in between those numbers! Tom tells some uproarious stories that have audiences laughing nonstop. As many of our attendees have said, "Tom isn't just a great musician. He is a real entertainer!"
We are always delighted to have Tom perform at our retreats!
Kendra Ward and Bob Bence
It is always a pleasure to welcome recording
artists Kendra Ward and Bob Bence to one of our retreats.
Kendra and Bob have performed at several of our retreats in the past,
always to a most enthusiastic response.
Performing on the hammered dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, and guitar,
this entertaining duo offer a wonderful way to learn about and enjoy
Appalachian music. Kendra's precision on the hammered dulcimer has to
be seen to be believed!
Excerpts from Kendra and Bob's web site, Dulcimer Times:
Kendra has emerged as one of our most respected and loved Appalachian musicians. She is recognized as a true master of the hammered dulcimer, and has even been likened to the legendary guitarist Chet Atkins. Kendra's eight recordings have been hailed by fans and critics alike, while her instruction books and videos have introduced a new generation of dulcimer players to the joys of making their own music. Kendra's potent commitment to sharing her Appalachian culture has helped to keep a vital part of America's traditional heritage alive and vigorous.
Together, Kendra and Bob have earned a reputation as one of the most entertaining and accomplished traditional music duos in the nation. They have appeared on stage with The Statler Brothers, Debbie Reynolds, Bill Monroe, Allison Kraus, John Hartford, David Holt, and a host of other top performers. They have toured the United States from coast to coast, and are international favorites throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Whether on stage, on record, or in print, few artists communicate with the honesty, wit, charm and talent of Kendra Ward and Bob Bence.
Zoe Speaks
Zoe Speaks is the husband and wife musical
duo made up of Mitch Barret and Carla Glover.
While
hailing from the great state of Kentucky and drawing on their
Appalachian roots, Mitch and Carla do not limit themselves to
traditional music, playing everything from the traditional ballads to
contemporary songs. These talented singer/songwriters have released
two cds, Pearl and Birds Fly South.
They have won the Chris Austin Songwriting
Contest, and Mitch has also won the prestigious Kerrville New Folk
Award. Acoustic Guitar called Carla
"one
of the 30 essential artists of the next generation".
Excerpts from Mitch and Carla's web site, Zoe Speaks:
The duo Zoe Speaks consists of Mitch Barrett and Carla Gover, who jump in and out of their east Kentucky vernacular to play everything from traditional ballads to guitar-thumping contemporary acoustic tunes. Their music is drenched in the sounds of the Appalachian music they were raised with, but they draw from other influences and do not try to hold the music static and unchanging. [V]ocal harmonies are a defining feature of their sound. Their relaxed performance style and accessible attitude allow audiences to feel as if they are getting to know Mitch and Carla. They accompany themselves on guitar, clawhammer banjo, and dulcimer.
E-mail A Stitcher's
Retreat at XSGetaway@cinci.rr.com
URL: http://www.astitchersretreat.com
URL: http://www.turnerretreats.com
Photographs by Randy Turner
