Anna Crusis Women's Choir facts for kids
The Anna Crusis Feminist Choir is the longest-running choir of its kind in the United States. It was started in 1975 by Dr. Catherine Roma in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ANNA Crusis is known for its strong focus on social justice. They sing songs that celebrate the strength and unity of people from all walks of life. This includes themes important to women and the LGBTQ+ community.
Miriam Davidson is the choir's Artistic Director. The choir welcomes people of all ages, backgrounds, and gender identities. Their songs share many different experiences and ideas. This helps both the singers and the audience understand the diverse world we live in.
ANNA Crusis puts on two big concerts each year. They also perform at many community events. You can often hear them singing at charity events, rallies, and LGBTQ+ community gatherings. They sing wherever music can bring hope and strength. ANNA has performed in many famous places in Philadelphia and New York City. These include the Kimmel Center, the United Nations, and Carnegie Hall. In 2019, ANNA was invited to sing at a festival in Santiago de Cuba. They have also sung with famous artists like Demi Lovato and Hugh Jackman.
ANNA is one of the groups that helped start GALA. GALA stands for the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses. It is the only group in the world that supports LGBTQ+ choirs. GALA has over 190 choirs and 10,000 singers worldwide.
ANNA is also part of the Sister Singers Network. This network connects feminist choirs, composers, and singers. They work together to support women's choral music.
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Singing for Change
ANNA Crusis has a strong goal to educate and help society. They perform music from all over the world. Their songs often talk about peace, fairness, and equality. They have always supported LGBTQ+ causes. They often perform with other groups at events like International Women's Day and Philly Pride.
ANNA Crusis is a community choir for people who love to sing. They focus on making great music and including everyone. They welcome singers of all backgrounds and gender identities. The choir also welcomes singers with disabilities. They often have a sign language interpreter at their concerts. Singers need to audition to join. However, the choir includes people with all levels of musical experience. Some do not read music, while others have professional training.
Choir Leaders
Catherine Roma, 1975-1983
Catherine Roma was born in Philadelphia. She went to Germantown Friends School, a Quaker school. Catherine studied music and choral conducting at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. There, she became involved in feminist ideas. She worked with historian Ann D. Gordon to find music by and about women. They created a folk opera called American Women: A Choral History. This was for the United States Bicentennial.
In 1975, Catherine returned to Philadelphia. She taught music at Abington Friends School. She then started the Anna Crusis Women's Choir. This choir performed American Women: A Choral History at many colleges.
By starting Anna Crusis, Cathy Roma helped begin the women's choral movement. Her beliefs in feminism and social justice shaped the choir's goals. Decisions were often made using a Quaker-like process. This meant all members had a voice in important choices.
Cathy Roma left Anna in 1983 to study music further. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in 1989. In Cincinnati, she started another choir called MUSE (Cincinnati's Women's Choir).
Jane Hulting, 1983–2005
When Cathy Roma left, the choir's future was unclear. But they found Jane Hulting, who was from Minnesota. Jane studied music in Kansas City. She moved to Philadelphia in 1983. She became the musical director of Anna Crusis in 1984. Under Jane's leadership, the choir continued to sing many different styles of music. They also sang in various languages.
Jacqueline Coren, 2005-2011
Jacqueline Coren first joined Anna Crusis as a singer. She became the interim director when Jane Hulting took a break. Later, she was chosen as the new musical director. Jacqueline Coren has master's degrees in choral conducting and divinity. She also worked as a choral director at the George School. She started the Pendle Hill Chorus.
Anna Crusis continued to perform a wide range of music. These songs often showed the political and social concerns of the choir members. The choir kept working with other groups. They performed with Holly Near and at GALA's Equality Forum. They also sang with the Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus.
Miriam Davidson, 2012–
Miriam Davidson is a talented musician and singer-songwriter. She plays many instruments and writes books for Alfred Publishing. She has toured all over the United States. She has won many awards from the Folk and LGBTQ communities. Miriam has recorded eight CDs, several of which have won national awards.
She is on the board of directors for GALA Choruses. She has also directed choirs at big music festivals. Miriam is the Music Director of the Unitarian Congregation of West Chester. She also directs Makhaelat Michael, a community choir in Philadelphia.
Music Albums
- But We Fight For Roses Too, 1989 (remastered in 2010)
- Fresh Cut, 1993
- Spaces Between the Stars, 2000
- The song Visions of Children, on Seeds: The Songs of Pete Seeger, Vol. 3, 2003
- Anna Live: Raising Our Voices, 2007
- Sing Truth to Power, 2018
Commissioned Works
Anna Crusis has asked many composers to create new music for them. These special pieces often have unique themes and instruments. Some examples include:
- Sappho, by Anna Rubin, first performed in 1978.
- Eurydice, by Chester Biscardi, first performed in 1979.
- Oda a las Ranas (Ode to Frogs), by Vivian Fine, first performed in 1980.
- Betty Crocker, by Patsy Rogers, first performed in 1982.
- Wind Horse, by Pauline Oliveros, first performed in 1992.
- Daughter, Awake With the Moon, by Janice Hamer, first performed in 1992.
- Word of Mouth, by Nehassaiu deGannes, first performed in 1994.
- Sophia, by Julia Haines, first performed in 1994.
- My Voice: a work in 3 movements, by Jennifer Higdon, first performed in 1995.
- No One Has Imagined Us, by Sharon Hershey, first performed in 1997.
- New Face, by Janika Vandervelde, first performed in 2000.
- Finding Her Here, by Joan Szymko, first performed in 2005.
- She Sweeps With Many Brooms, by Lisa Westerterp, first performed in 2005.
- The Oldest Feminist Choir, by Judith Palmer, first performed in 2005.
- The Shape of My Soul, by Andrea Clearfield, first performed in 2005.
- Madrigals for the Information Age, by Peter Hilliard, first performed in 2006.
- Consider Krakatau, by Peter Hilliard, first performed in 2009.
- Into the Light, by Robert Maggio, first performed in 2009.
- Voyage: I, Too, Can Sing a Dream, by Cynthia Folio, first performed in 2009.
- Blessed be, by Joan Szymko, first performed in 2015.
- Her Name Was, by SistaStrings, first performed in 2019.
Main Concerts and Themes
Anna Crusis performs many concerts throughout the year. They often sing with other groups. Their main shows are usually in November or December (winter) and May or June (spring). Here are some of their past concerts:
Miriam Davidson
- December 2019: "Keep Hope Alive" with Sister Cities Girlchoir.
- June 2019: "Beyond Boundaries" (also with Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus to celebrate 50 years of Stonewall).
- December 2018: "Declaration of Inter Dependence".
- June 2018: "Sing Truth to Power".
- December 2017: "Song is a Traveler", with Moira Smiley.
- April 2017: "Now More Than Ever", with Holly Near.
- December 2016: “This Land is Our Land”.
- June 2016: "Stronger for the Struggle".
- December 2015: "Sound Mind: Your brain on music".
- June 2015: 'Reclaiming the “F” Word', their 40th anniversary concert. All four conductors were there.
- December 2014: "Stand UP! Sing OUT!" with special guest Melanie DeMore.
- June 2014: "Beauty Unmasked: Songs of Strength, Wisdom and the Beauty Inside".
- December 2013: "Hungry for Justice" with Philabundance and MANNA.
- December 2012: "Simply Love: A Marriage Equality Event" with members of Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus.
Jacqueline Coren
- December 2011: "Breaking News: 'Anna'dotes to the Headlines," with guest Sharon Katz.
- June 2010: "35 years of singing for social justice," with guest conductors Catherine Roma and Jane Hulting.
- November 2009: With guests Svitanya.
- May 2009: "All Our Children Can Fly," with guest Amy Dixon-Kolar.
- June 2007: "In the Cradle of Our Land".
- December 2005: "And All the Earth Shall Sing".
Jane Hulting
- May 2005: "Finding Her Here", Jane Hulting's last concert.
- December 2004: "Seasons of Love".
- December 2003: "All the Wild Wonders".
- December 2002: "Workin’ for the Dawn of Peace".
- December 2001: "Something Inside So Strong".
- November 2000: "Sounds of the Spirit Where Angels Live", with guest Harold Smith.
- November 1999: "Higher Ground".
- November 1998: "Coming into our years – 150 yrs. of feminism in Action". This celebrated the 1848 Women’s Rights Convention.
- June 1998: "No one has imagined us", with other women's choirs.
- November 1997: "When Choirs Sway".
- June 1997: "Anna Gumbo".
- November 1996: "Mama, I Want to Make Rhythm".
- June 1996: "Reach Across the Lines".
- February 1996: Performed for Hillary Clinton and Tipper Gore.
- January 1995: "Common Threads" with guests Pete Seeger and Reggie Harris.
- November 1995: "Celebrating 75 yrs of Women’s Suffrage".
- November 1994: "Joyful Recognition of the Feminine in all our lives".
- June 1995: "Women's Voices: Women's Strengths".
- April 1992: "A Harmony of Voices," with guests Karen Saillant and Don Kawash.
- June 1991: "PeaceWorks", protesting Operation Desert Storm.
- April 1985: 10th anniversary concert.
- June 1984: First spring concert with Jane Hulting.
Catherine Roma
- June 1982: Final concert with Cathy Roma as director.
- June 1978: Performed their first commissioned piece, Sappho.
- June 1977: With guest conductor Kay Gardner.
- 1975: American Women: A Choral History, their first big performance.
The Themis Award
In 2009, the Anna Crusis Women's Choir started the Themis Award. It is named after the Greek goddess of justice. This award honors women in the Philadelphia area who work for social justice, equality, and peace.
- Jane Golden, 2009: Director of the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program.
- Doris Polsky and Shirley Melvin (after their passing), 2010: Jewish real estate brokers who helped keep the Mount Airy neighborhood diverse.
- First United Methodist Church of Germantown (FUMCOG), 2011: Honored for being a welcoming and active church.
Awards Received
- 1988: Women's International League for Peace and Freedom local awards.
- 1990: Best of Philly Awards, Best Women's Choir.
- 2014: National Endowment for the Arts Award. This helped fund the "Women Aloud: Celebrating Women in Music" concert in 2016.
- 2017: Brigit Award for Excellence in the Arts.
