There are very few -if any- household concerts as good as this one!. The Ostende Folk Music Ensemble performed for the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity at Chiara Convent, Manitowoc, WI. All of the performers in the group are instructors at the Ostende Conservatory of Music, one of the largest in Belgium. They have about 800 to 900 private students taking applied lessons and performing in ensembles. This particular faculty folk ensemble specializes in Irish and Celtic music and, when appropriate, uses authentic folk instruments.
Some Belgians in the group come to visit the Sisters every December while attending the Midwest Band Convention in Chicago. Sister Lorna Zemke taught music in several cities in Belgium several years ago to many of the Belgian instructors and became acquainted with these instructors/performers while there.
As you can imagine, all the Sisters happily applauded these wonderful, thoughtful people. A December concert of this kind is priceless. (Photo-Sister Elizabeth Benvie, OSF)
