Youth for Understanding
Chorale Alumni
Making Memories Thru Music
Two Interviews with Robert Pratt*
Book written and compiled by chorale alumni Susan Bayha and Day Best
To order this version: Note: Our reunion has been postponed until the end of June, 2011. Stay tuned for more information regarding this event in the coming year.
Two Editions are available:
1. The 8” x 10” Memorial Edition with color cover, contains the choral warm-up exercises, tributes from chorale members and some international reviews of a few chorales as well as the interview text. Cost: $30
Click here to view the front and back cover.
To order this version:
8-10 weeks delivery - orders will be bundled to obtain the best discount at the printers. Send a check made out to “Chorale Alumni” to Day Best, 2500 Lee Drive, Bay City MI 48708-6383 with the number of books needed and the address to which you want the book(s) shipped.
2. The 5” X 8” Pocketbook Edition contains the text of the interviews, the choral warm-up exercises and two photos of Bob – one during the Chorale years and the distinguished memorial photo of recent years.
Cost: $15.95
Click to here to view the front and back cover.
Note! From now until August 31, 2010, the publisher is offering free flat-rate shipping on these books!
Immediate ordering and previewing available at www.Blurb.com – Choose Biographies in the Bookstore on the site and search for “Two Interviews with Bob Pratt” to locate the order form.
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More sad news:
It is with great sadness that I share the news of John Courter's passing. Such a talent and gone way too soon. Most of you may know him as our accompanist for our Alumni Chorale concerts. Here is a link to his obituary in the Lansing State Journal:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/lsj/obituary.aspx?n=john-courter&pid=143744579
Additional comments by Jane Johnson, who is the organist at Crestwood Christian Church in Lexington, KY. She was a close friend of John's through their AGO chapter.
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Our beloved Bob Pratt passed away on November 30, 2009. His obituary can be found here:
http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/ann-arbors-robert-pratt-left-a-rich-musical-legacy/
A memorial service was held on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at the First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor. Many alumni participated in the service. We gathered on the steps in front of the altar and sang our signature songs: "Every Time I Feel the Spirit", "Instrument of Thy Peace" and the majestic "Onward Ye Peoples". Thank you to all of you who were able to come and participate. A recording of the service may be available.
After the service we were invited to a wonderful reception in the basement of the church. It was heart-warming to meet and greet all the alumni from 1958-1973 who came to celebrate the life of Robert Pratt.
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Note: Special CD offer! "Sacred Works" - $10 each. Go to CD catalog page for full information.
For questions, comments, or problems with this web site, please send email to the Webmaster.
* * * * * To all the wonderful people who attended the recent Chorale Alumni concert, Thanks from the bottom of my heart for your wonderful singing and friendship that imbued the weekend with such success! I love you all. Best wishes to you and your families. Please keep in touch with me. Words don't really express my thoughts except to say THANK YOU all.
Michigan Archive Update!
The Michigan/YFU Chorale collection has been installed. If you are in the Lansing area go check it out.
(Our accession number is 2008-23.)
Archives of Michigan
702 W. Kalamazoo St.
Lansing, MI 48908
CD Update:
Note: Check out the CD Catalog page. An updated list with remaining CDs is now listed there.
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2008 Memories
Share it with others - check out the fun & concert on You-Tube*:
Click here: YouTube - YFU Chorale Alumni Reunion dinner
YFU Alumni Chorale 2008
YFU Alumni Chorale 2008 When Johnny Comes Marching Home
*Recorded by Pat Snover-Tait's ('65,'66) husband
(Note: To check out newspaper articles about the reunion click on the "Press Release" section.)
Message from Bob Pratt:
Cordially, Bob Pratt
(please, everyone, call me "Bob," since we're all grown up now.)
Note: New photo is now available on the "Photos" section!
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Did you enjoy Dan Berry's speech at the concert? You can read it here.
*Recorded by Pat Snover-Tait's ('65,'66) husband
*Interviews with Robert Pratt has been Transcribed!
In November, Day Best transcribed an interview with Robert Pratt. This is a wonderful Oral History of the years he conducted the Choral. It includes 14 pages of riveting stories and adventures on chorale tours as only Robert Pratt could tell them - part Indiana Jones, part James Bond - our own Maestro recounts the highlights of the tours and the special people he has known along the way. You can read it here.
As a special gift from the Alumni Chorale, Day has sent a black, hardbound book and accompanying CD set to Robert Pratt this week (She is also sending the same to the Archives of MI as a gift from the Alumni Chorale).
Day has 3 dbl CD sets of the Oral History audio made up, if anyone wishes to purchase it. The cost is $12 each set. We have 2 dbl CD 50th Reunion CDs left. They are also $12 ea. Members can make checks payable to:
Day Best
