The Natchez Opera Guild invites you to join this group, which is a part of the Natchez Festival of Music. Our mission is to support the festival and to encourage public participation in its events. The guild provides a number of educational and cultural events throughout the year to help raise funds and to allow the area citizens to become involved in this outstanding festival, which contributes so much to the community.

You are invited to come to the annual Membership Party from 5:30 until 7:30 tonight at the home of Alan Kochek — Holly Hedges — located at 214 Washington St. He has recently restored this home and furnished it with many lovely antiques. His collection of vintage cars will be on display, and Joe Stone will be playing to provide a charming ambience for this party.

We are very excited about the activities planned for this year and hope that you will be able to participate in many of them.  Among the scheduled activities are the following:

We will operate the Coke booth for the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race throughout the weekend of Oct. 17-19.

On Nov. 15, the guild is sponsoring a Cabaret performance by Will Earl Spanheimer, bass-baritone, and Kimberley Bentley, soprano, accompanied by Donna Schaffer at The Columns. These are some of the most beloved artists who have performed recently for the Natchez Festival of Music. They will sing many Broadway love songs and other popular songs in this very special event. Guild members will be able to purchase advance tickets for $15 at Natchez Pilgrimage Tours. Non guild members will pay $20 for advance tickets; all tickets are $25 at the door. Because space is limited, people are encouraged to acquire their tickets as early as possible.

The guild will sponsor a gala tribute to Dr. Donald Killelea on Dec. 5 at the Natchez City Auditorium. Dr. Killelea has been such an important part of the community. If you would like to contribute your story of connections with him, please send your information to the Natchez Opera Guild at Post Office Box 1562, Natchez, MS 39121.

On Sunday, Dec. 8, the guild will sponsor the Alcorn Concert Choir Christmas Concert at St. Mary’s Minor Basilica.

Plcido Domingo, described as the world’s leading tenor, will perform in New Orleans on Jan. 17. The guild will take a bus to his concert. Reservations should be made very soon in order to reserve both tickets and space on the bus.

For Valentine’s Day, the guild will have a very special dinner and concert at Edgewood, the home of Richard and Lynn James Leet. A group from Texas will perform a short opera there. What an exciting evening that will be.

With all of these exciting activities, the guild welcomes your participation and involvement as we all work together to assure that Natchez enjoys the finest music possible and continues to be a cultural destination bringing people from far and wide to appreciate our fabulous community. Please join with us. Membership dues are $20 for an individual, $10 for students, $30 for couples and $40 for families. The free and reduced admissions are almost double the cost of guild membership and allow you to help support this vital organization which contributes so much to Natchez and this area.  Our address is Natchez Opera Guild, P. O. Box 1562, Natchez, MS 39121.  We hope to see you on Friday and at many other events throughout the year!

Rena Jean SCHMEIG is president of the Natchez Opera Guild.