Karen Brown

1981

1

321-252-SING (7464)

321-576-2205

joyfulnoisevocalproductions@yahoo.com

self-employed

No

Hands down, my favorite memory is when the senior girls approached me to tell me they wanted to nominate me for band secretary. They said they would do all the campaigning for me; I wouldn't have to do a thing other than to accept. That was so touching, and it still moves me to tears that the most popular girls in the band - who I looked up to & wished I could be like - would even notice me, let alone do that for me! I'll always treasure that memory.

Another amazing memory was when we marched out on to the field of Doak-Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee at the FSU/SC game. I remember feeling overwhelmed by the size of that stadium & the huge (albeit drunken) crowd. Even though I later went to FSU, that was the *only* FSU football game I ever attended!

Actually, everything that involved the band is counted among my favorites: game nights on Fridays, joining hands in prayer before the games (I'm sure that's highly illegal now :( ) the band trips (Washington D.C., Miami, Tallahassee), contest, and just all the commeraderie of being in the band and the mixture of excitement & contentment I felt from being a part of such an amazing & cohesive ensemble. Frankly, I count it as the pinnacle of my life's musical experiences. I had the great pleasure of reliving many of those memories with Andre & Patsy Arrouet over lunch a few months ago. :)

I think this falls more under awkward than embarrassing, although I was embarrassed at the time. Whilst singing "Ave Maria" at our (Class of '81's) baccalaureate service, my mortar board began to slip off my head. I didn't know whether or not to try & catch it, or just let it go. I chose to ignore it and concentrate on singing my solo. Eventually, it fell completely off my head. I remember afterwards, Eric Jannke said that it was kind of symbolic of our breaking free from the youthful experience of high school and moving into adulthood (or something like that - sorry, Eric, if I misquoted you!) I'm very thankful my friends were able to help me get past the awkwardness of it and see the humor. :)

After graduating from BCC, I attended FSU & stayed in Tallahassee for 12 years. I then moved to Seattle, where I lived for 5 years. During that time, I had the privilege of singing with the Seattle Symphony Chorus for their final performance (Beethoven's Ninth) in the historic Seattle Opera House and their premiere performance in their new home, Benaroya Hall, in 1998. I loved all of my time in the Pacific Northwest, except for the 2000 earthquake & the foiled terrorist plot to bomb the Space Needle in 1999/2000 (scary!) But if I could persuade my family to move there, I'd still live there today.

However, I moved back to Brevard County in 2001 to be closer to my family & to help care for my mother, who has Alzheimer's. I also returned to my soloist position at the Community Chapel of Melbourne Beach. I first became a soloist there in 1979! (who says you can't go home?)

Now I'm trying to start up my own businesses during the worst of economic times. I always did love a challenge! :)