The Sweet Ayres will provide music at 'Oxbridge' —and at C.S. Lewis's home, The Kilns!
A group of longtime Anselm Society members has been invited to provide music during the C.S. Lewis Summer Institute conference, held once every three years at Oxford University in England.
Greg and Nancy Brown, Megan Prahl, and Terri Moon (with husband Steve Moon) will represent the Anselm Society not only at the weeklong event, nicknamed “Oxbridge”; they also have been invited to perform during a related reception at The Kilns, C.S. Lewis's home.
The group, known as The Sweet Ayres Quartet, will travel in late July to the sold-out conference, which runs July 28, 2022, through August 5, 2022.
An International Opportunity
“We are so honored,” said Terri, who is the ensemble’s violinist. “The Anselm Society is growing in recognition, and now we get to represent it at an international event attended by hundreds of scholars and thinkers from all over the world!” she said.
Megan is the Sweet Ayres’s harpist, and the Browns add oboe, English horn, bassoon, recorder and hammered dulcimer to the group’s beautiful harmony — or as Shakespeare would say, “sweet ayres that give delight.”
The once-in-a-lifetime invitation came after the president of the C.S. Lewis Foundation, Steven Elmore, attended Anselm’s 2021 Imagination Redeemed Conference in Colorado Springs last fall and heard the musicians play.
Pilgrims along the Way
The four musicians will be performing “whimsies” between conference talks and workshops, and join in an evening of hymns at C.S. Lewis’ own church. They also will perform an entire collaborative evening concert, arranged by Greg, and will be joined by Anselm Society leadership team member and
singer-songwriter Matthew Clark. (This May the Sweet Ayres spent a week with Matthew to record his new song, “Pilgrims on the Way,” commissioned by the C.S. Lewis Foundation for the conference.)
And, then, there will be that unbelievable opportunity to play in the garden
at The Kilns.
“We’re beyond excited. It’s going to be magical! If we didn’t have to have our hands full carrying all the instruments and music stands and other equipment, we’d be pinching ourselves!” laughed Terri.
Among Friends
The participation of the Sweet Ayres means that the Anselm Society becomes an Oxbridge sponsor, displaying its logo alongside the Trinity Forum, the Rabbit Room, The Cultivating Project, and the C.S. Lewis Study Center.
Friends of the Anselm Society will be speaking at Oxbridge. In addition to Matthew, the faculty and staff includes Andrew Peterson, Diana Glyer, Malcolm Guite, Jessica Hooten Wilson, Michael Card, Amber Salladin, Andrew and Christin Ditchfield Lazo — not to mention Lancia Smith.
The Sweet Ayres need to raise $10,000 by July 10, 2022, to cover the cost of airfare to England and back for five people and numerous very expensive instruments, plus food and lodging. (The foundation is providing conference tickets.)
Terri said supporters can contribute to the travel fund via a GoFundMe account, via Venmo, or directly by check in the mail. “Whether $10 or $1,000, anything helps,” said Terri.
Terri also said the ensemble would appreciate prayer during their travel and their time in Oxford. They plan to update friends and supporters via their Facebook page: @sweetayres.
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