Concert History

From the outset, Foundry's Concert for Life has featured an unusual teaming up of music with mission groups. Foundry created an AIDS mission group in early 1987. Its first AIDS benefit was held in 1991. Two pioneers in the AIDS Mission, Dick and Nancy Goodwin, had seen a model they liked in Baltimore: a six-hour AIDS benefit Sing-a-Thon put on by Grace United Methodist Church.

Another catalyst came from two young gay brothers from Ohio, Dana and David Carpenter. They were very active in Foundry's 20s-30s fellowship. They also had AIDS. The group wanted to know what they could do to help fight the epidemic. The Carpenters talked to Foundry's minister of music, Eileen Guenther, winning her enthusiastic support as well as her energy in drawing from her myriad musical sources. She went on to deliver 14 annual AIDS benefit concerts at Foundry.

The 1991 and 1992 concerts were informal experiments. The first, a three-hour cabaret mélange of music ranging from opera to jazz, raised $4,167 The money went to the D.C. Women's Council on AIDS, Food and Friends, Grandma''s House, and the Whitman-Walker Health Food Bank.

The first formal "Concert for Life" was held in 1993, with an elaborate "Back to the Baroque" catered dinner followed by an evening of classical music in the sanctuary. The concert was dedicated to co-chair Dana Carpenter, who died before it was held. That year, the concert raised more than $12,000. P.J. Taylor, CFL co-chair for five years, says "Eileen was a primary mover in getting it started and in developing a format we found successful." Eileen remembers it as a collaborative effort between the choirs and the AIDS Mission. There were "artistic meetings" where everyone threw out ideas. "It was a concept that was bigger than any of us," she says.

Late in the 1990s, concert organizers began seeking donations from supportive individuals and from businesses and corporations. Foundry leader and choir member, Charles Berardesco, has been the concert's premiere "angel" in this effort, giving and raising numerous major gifts over the years. Organizers have relied on contacts on the political scene to spotlight the concert and obtain significant financial contributions. This includes D.C. Councilman Jack Evans, and President and Mrs. Clinton, who attended Foundry. First Lady Hillary Clinton served as honorary co-chair for three years and in 2000 she and President Bill Clinton served as honorary co-chairs and sent a message to be read on concert night.

In 2005, Foundry singers shared the billing with two renowned choirs: the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington and the Heritage Signature Chorale. It was a celebration of Foundry's reconciling ministry and recognition of the diversity of the church and its mission. Eileen was on the board of the Heritage Signature Chorale, which is directed by Stanley J. Thurston. It was his introduction to Foundry. Stanley was chosen interim music director after Eileen's departure in mid-2007. Shortly after he directed and conducted the 2008 Concert for Life, Stanley was named Foundry's Music Director. Through Stanley's contacts on DC's music scene, the Concert has hosted The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, The Children's Chorus of Washington, The Rock Creek Singers, Theatre Lab School of the Performing Arts, The Duke Ellington School of the Performing Arts Concert Choir, and soloists from Signature Theatre.

Through contacts with WGMS-FM and WETA-FM radio, CFL has had distinguished on-air personalities Renee Chaney, Diana Hollander, and Deb Lamberton to lend their announcing talents on the Concert stage. These performers, along with volunteer orchestra and choir members stepped forward each year, giving freely of their time and talent.

Beginning in 2008, past volunteers David Page and Ted Tymczyszyn became CFL co-chairs and expanded the committee recruiting additional volunteers from within and outside Foundry's membership. Ted says, "We are fortunate to have professionals contributing their expertise in graphics design, volunteer coordination, and stage production, to list a few, for the Concert and 175-person reception." Ted adds, "The Concert is the combined effort of nearly 20 committee members, working for months prior to concert date, plus a 'small army' of volunteers working the day of the concert, that make it a success." In 2009 the GLBT volunteer group Burgundy Crescent supported the Concert providing dozens of volunteers. Total count of committee members and volunteers exceeds 75!

In 2009, CFL awarded the first Inspiration Ribbon, for meritorious service to the Concert and its beneficiary organizations to Charlie Berardesco, and in 2010 to Jim Fairchild.

In spite of the local and global economic crisis, in 2010 CFL reached a milestone - raising more money than in any previous year. On July 25, 2011, during Foundry's 11 am service, checks totaling $89,652 were distributed to beneficiary representatives. The final total surpassed the total announced on Concert night due to additional donations made following the Concert. There was an element of surprise heard across the congregation following the announcement.

When Foundry began its AIDS Mission in 1987, there had been 1,005 cases in DC. By 2006, this had increased to 17,400. Today, three percent of DC residents are known to be living with HIV and AIDS. African Americans are disproportionately affected, making up 53% of the general DC population but accounting for 76% of those living with HIV and AIDS. An estimated 0.35% of the U.S. population as a whole is living with HIV -- highlighting the gravity of the situation in DC, which has a prevalence rate par with certain countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the highest burden of HIV in the world. In addition, according to the president of the Washington Area Women's Foundation, Nicky Goren, Washington, DC "has an AIDS rate for women that is 12 times the national average and rivals sub-Saharan African countries."

The 2011 Committee, on behalf of the Concert for Life beneficiaries, extends our deepest gratitude to past and current volunteers for their hard work, leadership, and dedication to Concert for Life. You have inspired Foundry's commitment to supporting the work of HIV/AIDS organizations locally and globally, and we are proud to continue your legacy.