Purchase Tickets
CHARIS, The St. Louis Women’s Chorus, will perform our concert Lifting As We Climb on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 7:00 pm and Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 2:00 pm at the Keating Center for Performing Arts on the campus of Kirkwood High School (801 W. Essex Ave., Kirkwood, Missouri, 63122). Free parking is available on site.
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Tickets for Lifting As We Climb are $17 in advance and $20 at the door; tickets for seniors (65+), children (5-12) and students with student ID are $15.
Tickets are available online via the buttons on this page (coming soon) or at the door.
For as long as humans have come together to build a better world, songs have lifted our spirits and strengthened our resolve. In two acts, this concert celebrates the transformative power of music in driving social change.
The first act features a selection of songs that have become anthems for movements seeking to improve life for everyone. It opens with Holly Near’s "Fired Up," a passionate call to action against social injustices, setting the tone with a fervent plea for systemic reform in how society supports the marginalized. This is followed by Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changin'," which amplifies the message of change, encouraging us to embrace evolving generational ideas.
The first act continues with "Bread and Roses," a song inspired by a 1911 poem and political slogan from the women's suffrage movement. This piece eloquently demands a society that meets both the material and spiritual needs of its people, advocating for fair wages and dignified working conditions. Following this, "Stardust," arranged from a contemporary poem by Brittny Ray Crowell, offers a moment of cosmic reflection, honoring the lives of people of color who have been unjustly taken and calling for justice and remembrance.
Continuing with the theme of empowerment, "What Happens When A Woman" celebrates the transformative impact of women who lead with strength, resilience, and love. The body percussion accompanying this song underscores the message of active and dynamic change. The first act concludes with "Shosholoza," a traditional South African work song that symbolizes collective effort and enduring spirit, connecting the global struggle for justice to the concert's broader themes of unity and resilience.
The second act is dedicated to Joan Szymko's choral libretto, "Lifting As We Climb." Commissioned by CHARIS and other choirs in 2020 to mark the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, this piece uses historical speeches and songs to narrate the ongoing struggle for women’s suffrage and equality in the United States, highlighting the voices of activists like Lucretia Mott and Susan B. Anthony. It not only honors the past but also calls for continued activism and solidarity in addressing today’s challenges.
As the concert draws to a close, CHARIS has prepared a dynamic and empowering encore—if the audience demands one, there will be a finale celebrating personal strength, resilience, and self-assertion, encouraging the audience to embrace their inner power and face obstacles with confidence and pride.