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October 27, 2008
Dear Princeton Girlchoir families and friends,
After almost 20 years of passionate involvement in the Princeton
Girlchoir, I have decided to step down from the position of Artistic
Director and Concert Choir Director at the end of the 2008-2009
season. I am looking forward to spending more time with my husband
and family.
I directed my first choir, a small church choir, in my senior year at
Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, and ever since, I have been
involved in singing with or directing choral
ensembles – church, community, and school organizations.
To me, there is something magical about the communal aspects of choral
singing – mutual effort, blending of voices and minds,
teamwork, etc. All these things need to come together in the right
way to ensure a top-notch performance. So in the summer of 1989, I
decided that I would offer a choral experience in the Princeton area
for girls only. We already had a boychoir! With 27 girls and no
organization and no budget, we started up that first season, and we
have been growing and evolving ever since. Our first tour took us to
Italy in 1995, and since then, oh, the places we've been! We have
sung at festivals and events throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
In our history, we have had wonderful people along the way who have
helped us on various projects, from becoming a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization to getting suitable office space. I have such respect
and admiration for all our supporters, too numerous to name, who
worked so tirelessly to help us become bigger and better! The most
important thank-you goes to my colleague of some 15 or more years,
Janet Perkins. She has been involved in every aspect of the
organization, and is the heart and soul of PGC. No single person,
including me, has done more on our behalf. Thank you, Janet!
The Princeton Girlchoir is poised to continue its strong presence in
the musical life of the community. I look forward to a wonderful year
together, celebrating 20 years of music making. I also plan to focus
my efforts in the coming years on developing and fostering PGC Alumnae
events so that we can reconnect with young women who have sung with us
over the years.
I have always had a good sense of "timing," and I am certain that
this is the right time for me and for the organization. The list of
things I want to do "when I have more time" is long, and it is time
to get started on it.
I love you all. Many thanks to you for years of joy!
Janet A. Westrick
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