This blog is submitted by Jeff Hunt, Conductor of the St Charles Singers.

Greetings from the newest kids on the CCM musical blog.  

It's indeed a privilege to be newcomers to Chicago Classical Music and the St. Charles Singers are grateful to be a cog in the wheel of Chicago's amazing and very vibrant music scene.  And what a colorful, energetic, creative scene it is.  

This is my opportunity to say thank you to the incredible organizations of Chicago Classical Music for the great work you do.  You continue to make our lives as attendees richer and fuller.  

As you might imagine, I am especially aware, appreciative and sensitive to the work that goes into the creative process of other organizations; St. Charles Singers is entering our 25th year of music making. How could 25 years fly by so fast?   What a wonderful journey it has been.  

I started the group by calling friends and family on the phone (no email...not yet in 1984) and tempted them with the offer of starting a chamber choir. Enough said "sure why not" (little did they know!) and we were off to our first rehearsal with 12 singers. I won't bore you with the timeline but suffice it to say, the journey over the 25 years has been humbling, and like many arts organizations, filled with many challenges along the way.  

It hasn't always been easy but I have always tried to have music be at the center of all that transpires in and about the choir. We—me with my great board of directors and volunteers—ask the central question: what's best for the music?  We follow that path.  We haven’t succeeded, but the music has always been our goal.  

Finally, and this brings me back to the cog in the wheel. We’re a part of a bigger enterprise. Other musicians who are equally committed to excellence enhance our music making.  We are honed by many groups that continue to nurture and support composers, musicians and their audiences.

Thank you and we look forward to many more years of music making with you all.

Jeff Hunt