Pictures from the Restore Love week in Dallas Texas, 2012...finally!!

Ah, Technology! I have been trying to figure out how to post on this blog for over a Year! One server wouldn't let me even sign in, while the other prevents me from using my gmail acct! So here I am catching up with some of the Music events of the past while. Can you believe that it was in July 2012 that I had the opportunity to travel with the talented Shane Krauser and perform in the High Point Church in Arlington Texas before the Live Glenn Beck Radio Broadcast? It was a thrill to part of that Constitutional Education series and the Restore Love Week. Here are some of the pictures we took.

Yes, that is me and Glenn Beck :)

This is Shane Krauser, Constitutional Attorney and National Speaker.

This is me and my hubby at the Restore Love Event.

"God Bless America" on the Jumbotron

 

Family and Patriotism

Yes, I am proud to be an American. And you can see I've been singing at a lot of Patriotic events in the past 3 months. The picture of my me and my husband, Sterling and 3 of our children was at a special Family Watch event in Gilbert, AZ where several UN delegates were in attendance. The other pictures show me singing the National Anthem for several Conservative groups around the state. Shane Krauser, pictured above, is the main speaker for the American Academy for Constitutional Education and I am privileged to be able to travel and perform at the events where he is speaking. He is a great American and Patriot that is committed to helping us take back our country by holding our leaders accountable to the Constitutional Principles they have taken an oath to uphold. So, I have now recorded new patriotic songs...if you want to get them, email me at 8baers@gmail.com

Deseret Book Ladies Night @ Univ Mall-10.1.11

With all the men at Priesthood mtg, I had the awesome privilege to sing and sign CDs at the University Village Deseret Book in Orem UT. I had some great surprises with friends that stopped by to say hello too. How many women can you cram into a Bookstore? Lots when they are there waiting for 2 hours for FREE product giveaways! But the camaraderie was fun and afterwards I went to eat dinner with my new daughter-in-law, Cassandra Harper Baer.

LAMB OF GOD- Gammage Auditorium, Tempe, AZ

Composer Rob Gardner has created another amazing work! Lamb of God is both moving and accessible to all audiences. The melodies are familiar and tender and the personal angle of how those around Christ felt is something never to be forgotten.
Pictures are of me and my daughter Marisa and my son Tyler who also sang in the choir. Jordan and Kaitlynn Bluth. Then, a candid of Rob chatting backstage before a performance. Find the CD in a store or online and enjoy!

EVMCO in SALT LAKE CITY

The week in SLC was amazing! Over 700 singers and instrumentalists from Orange Cty, CA and Mesa/Gilbert, AZ all arrived and recorded in Abravanel Hall until we reached musical perfection :D Well, almost. Then we performed in both the Tabernacle and Abravanel Symphony Hall. The Stewart Brothers, Brett and Brandon, pictured below, had the vision to make this week happen and they worked hard to bring it to fruition. The Elder Brother, Brett composed a new oratorio, "Messiah in America" that we had performed in our separate venues previously and then came together in Salt Lake. What a thrill to sit in the Tab choir seats and sing this inspired music with my dear choir friends. If you are a music person, you know that it just doesn't get much better than that! The CD comes out in Sept.

Amazing EVMCO Concert with Collin Raye!

Patriotic Music is so inspiring! But with 250 children, 75 in the orchestra and 220 voice choir, with Collin Raye on a microphone, we rocked the house. The house was the Mesa Arts center and it was nearly packed. Brought to tears on Battle Hymn of the Republic, which normally seems like the same old, same old kinda song, and with bagpipes on Amazing Grace, it was also a teary moment.
I had the chance to announce for the beginning and for the military tribute, so I just felt it all the more. My hubby Sterling and daughter Marisa both sing in the choir as well, so it was a family affair the whole day, with rehearsal from 2pm...then going until 9:30pm. Marathon music days.I have to say I thrive on those marathon Music days...except for my feet. They didn't do so well. Need to change the shoes I wear in concerts or I'm not going to make it through the recording sessions next week in Salt Lake City for Messiah in America!

MESA ARIZONA EASTER PAGEANT 2011

The Pageant this year was again a spectacular experience. With over 350 in the cast and almost as many in the production staff, it is like a working family for one month. The spirit on the grounds is so sweet and strong as we get ready to tell the story of our Savior Jesus Christ's life and mission. I loved walking around in costume and randomly picking a person to talk to before the performance and share my love for the Lord and how being in the production has given me a better insight into his life. Visiting with others, I often shared the story of how, as Peter's first accuser in the pageant where he denies the Christ, I have to play a difficult part. But I expressed the understanding I have gained that God knows each of us would sin, over and over again in this mortal world. He knows we will. Do we forget this? And yes, this is exactly why he lovingly provided a Savior for us. And that is why we are drawn to our Lord and Savior, because he has done for us what none of us can do for ourselves. We can never repay him but can show we love him by using his atonement and trying again to keep his commandments.
As I shared this short message amidst the 10-15,000 people that came each night, I was surrounded by noise and people bustling to get to their seats for the show. But each time I got to the part of my Love for the Lord and knowledge that I know He lives, it seemed like everything around us was gone...and only the couple or person I was talking to were there with me...and it was still and sweet. I could feel and see on their faces that they felt that way too. The spirit indeed comes and ratifies the truth when we share it with others. I know He lives and loves each of us. The pageant is an opportunity to be a little part of a pageant that sweetly and plainly shares this truth with all who will listen.

AZ Temple Lights Christmas Concert

So, Although it has been a couple of months, I just had a friend send me some pics of my temple lights concert in December. I have to say that it was just a magical night under the starlit Arizona sky. Most of my family and many friends came to support me and I picked some of my favorite songs to sing for a half hour concert: Gesu Bambino, Star of Bethlehem & Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. I also sang the Carpenters' Merry Christmas Darling and Amy Grant's Breath of Heaven and Heirlooms. Since we were on the grounds of the holy temple, I took the chance to bear testimony of it's holiness, beauty and the great gift we receive inside of having our families sealed together forever. A great endowment of the spirit was poured out on us that night and I treasure the chance I had to share music of our Savior's birth on such sacred grounds.

Deseret Book Ladies Night and Constitution Ed Week in UT

What a fun trip to UT in October. I just got the pictures back and had to share a few. I had the chance to sing at the Constitution Education Week in Orem and met the most amazing folks. Great politicians running for office, fabulous presenters who know their stuff on the founding principles of this country and wonderful folks who want to make a difference in their communities. I sang a great arrangement of 2 verses of the Star Spangled Banner, arranged by my friend, Richard Talbot and many other patriotic tunes. I also had the chance to give an hour presentation on Hope and how it can we can build on it every day in our lives.
I went over Conference weekend, so I also got to attend a small Wood reunion for family history and met some new relatives. The Afternoon session of conference was awesome and I got to sit in the conference center with my son Brian and Devin. Sat night during the Priesthood session, I drove up to Logan to sing at the Deseret Book Ladies night. It was jam packed full of women and I sang for about 2 hours and shared some 'stories behind the songs'. All in all it was a great weekend in Utah.

East Valley Mormon Choral Organization- The Real Deal

Sterling and I joined the East Valley Mormon choral organization with julliard trained director- Brandon Stewart. It is a stellar choir with intense rehearsals and grand concerts. If you don't know much about the best choral sounds, vowel modification is paramount. The choirs at BYU really focus on this and the result is a rich uniform sound that has gained national recognition in the choral world. I sang under Dr. Ralph Woodward in the BYU A Cappella choir and enjoyed this rigorous training as well as with the then new director, Dr. Ronald Staheli, who now conducts the BYU Singers- now the top BYU choir.
My friends in that choir are mostly now all singing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and it is fun to see them each week on "Music and the Spoken Word" from the 'crossroads of the west'!
With our goals, training and repertoire I can promise that this choir will be doing some amazing things here in the East Valley of Phoenix and beyond! BTW- Brandon Stewart, our director is currently pursuing his Doctoral studies in Piano Performance at Arizona State University.

Steve Vaus

Did backup singing on Sat for grammy award winning country singer, Steve Vaus at the Gilbert Constitution Celebration. He has such inspirational patriotic songs and because I am a tea party patriot, I just loved his music! I also got to shake a tambourine which was quite a switch for me--boots, jeans and a tambourine! When I get a picture of that, I'll post it, cuz I'm usually performing in long black dresses, if you know what I mean. :D

Awesome Youth!

I did a presentation on listening/making great conversation to a combined YM/YW mtg in our stake today. It went well and the kids were very receptive, trying the points I taught them and actually learning something new about the other youth in their ward that they thought they knew. At the end, I segued into how to have courage to be open and share their feelings about the gospel with others. I know that when we do this, those that are humble and receptive will see that the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ is what makes us so happy. I sang "Take courage: It's time to Share" from my Out of the Dust album because it talks about the promises we made before we came to earth to testify of Christ and how it is our great privilege and responsibility to gather Israel in the last days before the 2nd coming of Christ. I love to speak to the Youth as they radiate the light of goodness in their eyes and so readily feel the spirit.

Especially For Youth- Provo, UT July 13-14

This year was my 7th teaching EFY and I still love it. I used powerpoint for the firsttime and although it took a long time to convert the talks I gave, it was worth it. This is another teacher, Meredith Evans, also from Arizona.

Wonderful Evening in Safford, Arizona!!

Our concert in Safford went so smoothly. The sound techs were great and the audience was warm and enthusiastic in the beautiful, new performing arts center. Thanks to Scott & Lara Cox from Bookworms in Thatcher who invited us down and hosted the concert. Small town folks are so fun and we really enjoyed sharing our music and also some amazing mexican food. Thanks also to Tom Chamberlin who joined us as a solo artist and was totally professional. My own hubby Sterling was the M.C. and Melanie Conway was the concert mgr/director. One fun postscript was being able to meet Bishop H. David Burton in the lobby of our Hotel right after our concert. He was in town to see the new Temple down the road and we were able to chat for a few minutes.

KOSY Sounds of the Sabbath Interview

Interviewing in UT with Joan Peterson on Sounds of the Sabbath was so much fun! She is originally from Mesa and now lives in UT so we actually spent about 20 min just chatting about common friends and experiences. She is a great lady and her maiden name is Speakman, so I knew some of her family. I like doing radio, but have to be careful because I get so comfortable and my voice gets, like....really, really LOW and rich. Maybe too much so. Anyway, they played my songs all day on the 4.25.10 and it was cool to be able to share a little bit about the songs before they were played on the radio. ;D

You won't want to miss this concert

I am so excited for this concert! All of us as artists are also producing this concert so it has taken a tremendous amount of hard work to put it together. But because of this, I think it will be awesome. I love Debbie's sweet high voice and power ballads! Freddie has an amazing tenor voice, and Three2U are not only inspirational soloists, but as a group, they have a synergisticc power and blend that is beyond smooth.

Please make sure that you get your tickets early because they are selling faster than any concert I have produced before.This is a great Christian Inspirational concert that you can feel comfortable bringing your friends to. We will be having multimedia and live orchestra as well as fabulous singing...so come and say hello. I would love to say hello to you and sign a CD if you want.

Love,

Michele

Christmas Eve Concert

Christmas Eve was busy for the Baer family this year as we performed at the AZ LDS Temple Lights again. Instead of cooking goodies and then caroling to a few friends on that special evening, we had the opportunity to sing to several hundred folks in the chilly night air on one of the most sacred nights of the year. When it was all done, the night turned out magical with many friends and extended family there to hug afterwards. But I must say that practicing harmonies, finding tux bowties, matching dresses, securing accompanists and such made for a stressful week up til the big day. LtoR is our family- Tyler, Corey, Michele, Sterling, Brian and Marisa. We also had Sarah Thaxton singing with us as an extra Soprano to help balance with all the men's voices. She was wonderful.

Brian sang "Little Drummer Boy" with his guitar and did a smooth job.

Then Tyler Sang "O Holy Night" with a Josh Groban arrangement background and sounded awesome. We heard many great comments afterwards about their songs.

I had the chance to sing "Gesu Bambino", one of my favorite Christmas Solos and also shared the popular song, "Merry Christmas Darling"

I think the best part was watching my children and husband enjoy performing for others and having the audience join with us on the last verse of Silent Night. It was sweet and stirring. Special Thanks to Sharon Overall for playing the piano for us and 2nd cousin Morgan Wood for jumping in at the last minute with violin!

CD DISCOUNT SPECIAL- 2 CD's FOR $25

After an amazing lineup of fall performances at 3 Book of Mormon Conventions, I have been busy with around 2 performances a week since then. Christmas concerts and musical numbers are really a joy to do.
Just this week I sang for an hour at the downtown Mesa AZ post office for the customers waiting in line to mail packages. I sang mostly Amy Grant or Karen Carpenter Christmas tunes and of course some old favorites like "White Christmas", but also featured a few of the songs from my CDs. How fun it is to see hearts soften and faces brighten up as they listen to music with the spirit of Christ. Most refreshing is to notice how all children respond with a ready smile and love in their eyes when they see me singing.
By the way, if anyone is interested in getting a discount on my CD's, just go to my website and you will see a special with a phone number to call. They make great gifts for friends or visiting teachees. www.MicheleBaer.com

BOOK OF MORMON EVIDENCES CONFERENCE

It has been an exciting and informational experience to sing at the two recent Book of Mormon Evidences conferences with Rod Meldrum, Bruce Porter, Wayne May and Kieth Merrill. I have enjoyed meeting some great folks and hearing compelling evidence that quite possibly the events of the Book of Mormon took place in the North American Continental area. I hope that if you have any curiosity, you will visit the website, http://www.bookofmormonevidence.org/ and read for yourself the scriptural, textual, archaelogical and dna evidences that have come forth.

EXCITING GIVEAWAY ON ANNE BRADSHAW'S BLOG

If you didn't know, I am featured as the giveaway of the week on Author Anne Bradshaw's blog.
She is featuring me because I am one of the contributors in her new book, 'FAMOUS FAMILY NIGHTS'. To find out more about the giveaway, go to www.annebradshaw.blogspot.com
The book is available at Deseret Book and other fine LDS Bookstores. You have to get it because it has great ideas for FHEs and because in my entry, I share the Woodies favorite Family night games from growing up. CHECK IT OUT!