Praise for "Peace For All Time" – a work for chorus, soloists and instrumentalists
"Congratulations on an important and moving composition. Wow! It was really incredible to hear it as it all came together last night with all the instrumentalists and Philip singing the
baritone part. Thank you for including me in this very timely and worthy effort. Congratulations again on a remarkable achievement."
--Nels M.
"CONGRATULATIONS! Your music, with its message of peace, was a resounding success! It was a remarkable concert for singers, instrumentalists and capacity audience! I hope you recognize what an outstanding musical event that you created, extending President Kennedy’s vision of peace. I am so grateful to you for including me among the musicians! Your patience and kindness during rehearsals were accepted as gifts to all of us. Thank you!"
--Bev L.
"Brilliant using that speech. I had not heard it before and now it is front and center in my memory."
--Chris T.
"Thanks for writing "Peace For All Time" - it was fun to participate in such a outstanding project and meeting some new people. Get JFK’s message out, it’s needing to be out there now
more than ever."
--Clark C.
"What a brave and mighty and wonderful blessing was this prayer -- Toward a Lasting Peace. (We don't need to talk about "God" to be praying, do we?) I was so deeply engaged, as so
many of us were. I thank you for composing, rehearsing, gathering the talent., singing, and most of all, for CARING ENOUGH TO DO IT. In a tiny amount of time you pulled together a very meaningful piece of work. I thank you with all my heart. I would love to see your Oratorio become a standard in high school choral groups!
So many musical phrases from your composition of the Peace "Sermon" swirl in my brain - they are becoming mantras. Many thanks to you and Mike for your loving and meaningful presence in our community. On so many levels. It means a lot to many."
--Antoinette B.
"Bravo! Moving music to accompany a moving and timeless speech and carry those precious words further along in time. All the more moving now in June of 2023, as the threats to world peace seem to be mounting even higher than in 1962. Just like the "moon-shot" speech, this speech by JFK at the AU grad commencement aims at the highest level. It is not so much prescriptive as it is visionary; leaving the doing to those that must be involved – the people. Will take some pondering perhaps – and putting minds together - what actions are prompted for us (the people) to further peace around us?"
--Andy H.
"I felt so privileged to be present last evening. Absolutely stunning. You are a beautiful person, gifted talent and aren’t we ALL fortunate to live with you on this island!!!!!!! Thank You."
--Joanne C.
"Dear Sharon—
Thank you” seems sort of small for what I’m feeling. What a joy! Singing your music was such an experience. I have various lines running through my head day and night. “The kind of peace
that makes life worth living” is close to the top of the list. An experience I will remember with true joy."
--Thomas B.
"Thank you so much for the privilege — and the delight! — of singing in the Peace concert last night. We thoroughly enjoyed both the practices and the performance, and the instrumentalists were terrific! We really appreciate all you did to make that concert happen, starting of course with composing the music! What a staggering amount of creative work and then organizational work! Your talent as a composer, and your including us in the
performance, are very much appreciated! I’m sure the audience felt privileged to hear it, too.
There were so many favorable comments afterward!"
--Miriam Z.
"Thank you so much! That was such a wonderful experience for me and my family. And what a fantastic ensemble of instrumentalists and soloists. You have some really talented friends! I loved that [my son] was able to see and hear such a talented male singing [just] feet away from him. He has precious few male role models of singing and I hope he sticks with it. He really does like it but he sometimes asks why he is the only boy!
Finally, it was just lovely to look in the audience and see all these intellectual people that were there not just for the music but also for the message of peace. They are activists, entrepreneurs, families, politicians: all humans capable of influencing change on this small planet."
--Laura M.
"What a beautiful time together hearing those important words of Peace set to beautiful music, with amazing local talent and a loving audience. The violin and the flute especially matched the voices that brought the notes right into my heart. It emanated peace inside for the rest of the day … and into the middle of the night when a short piece of poetry popped into my head … I’m sure that happens to you with the music creations.
We are so honored to have the opportunity to be present at this premiere. We hope this reaches far and wide and lays a well-needed peaceful feeling over this entire country. I hope it will be entirely professionally recorded and available for us to be reminded constantly of these precious, important words of President Kennedy.
Many, many thanks for all the effort you put into this production and the environment of Orcas Island Community to represent this message again to the world in music form, which so touches the heart. This experience has touched me deeply."
--Lynn T.
"After overnight reflection, I’d like you to know that your work was really good to listen to.
Your music was interesting, and it made the words easy to understand. While you and I are at odds politically, our ideals and desires are much the same. I hope that your oratorio gets wide circulation, and that it makes people think. Friendship is better than conflict. Anyway, the words of JFK's speech, probably written by Sorensen, deserve to be heard over and over again."
--Steve H.
"It was a thrill and an honor to be in the overflow audience and participate in one of the longest standing ovations ever! Congratulations to everyone for your beautiful work, especially Sharon! Brilliant is putting it mildly."
--Paula R.
"Thanks so much for inviting us to sing on your amazing composition. At our Quaker Silence this morning, 2 attendees were commenting on how moved they were by your composition. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity and found that I learned a great deal since I had never sung choral music before. You stimulated a new musical interest for me to learn. Again, thanks for a wonderful experience. I hope the video is published somewhere in the future because I have several people who are eager to hear it."
--Tom B.
"I wanted to congratulate you on "Peace For All Time". We were incredibly impressed with your ability to create such a polished event in so little time. We were pleased to be a part of it."
--Cynthia A.
"Tony and I commend you for your talent and creativity in putting to music Kennedy’s powerful speech ,nay plea for peace -first within our own souls and then out to the world. Sadly we’ve gotten waylaid yet with every effort by people like you and Michael that peaceful spirit is being kept alive and one day will blow over Washington and the world. A thousand blessings to you both! With admiration and love and thanks,"
--Nancy A.
"This is so beautiful, Sharon. Thank you for all your hard work and for your amazing composition! So much talent brought together for the sake of peace!"
--Marjorie H.
"This must have been a huge effort! Wow, hope it gets exposure everywhere. Brilliant! This is a cantata; it should go on tour..."
--Dianne F.
"What an uplifting way to conclude [the June 10 event]. Thank you, Sharon Abreu, for your impressive composition and for assembling these gifted vocalists and musicians together to
pay tribute to President John F. Kennedy’s great speech on this auspicious anniversary! It was a huge effort - we are so GRATEFUL, Sharon!"
--Sharleen L.
"This is brilliant, Sharon. I love it!"
--Mary P.
"Beautiful. I love this!!! So inspiring! I’d love to see churches all over the country singing this."
--Marie J.
