Photos from Sister Mary Cecilia Payne's endowed chair presentation

            The Owensboro Symphony Orchestra Foundation announced at its Jan. 24, 2009 concert that the principal chair of the second violin section is endowed in honor of Ursuline Sister Mary Cecilia Payne, whose efforts in music instruction at Brescia College beginning in 1952 led to the creation of the present Owensboro Symphony. The endowment honors all Ursuline Sisters for their role in music education. Sister Mary Cecilia died in 1987.
            Anne Damron, former development director at Brescia and a product of Ursuline education, said during the concert presentation that Sister Mary Cecilia “pushed for excellence,” and made her dream of Owensboro having a symphony happen. “I challenge each one of you whose lives have been touched by an Ursuline Sister to endow a second chair,” Damron said.
            The 31 Ursuline Sisters who attended the concert were asked to stand and received an ovation from the audience. Prior to the concert, the Symphony Foundation sponsored a reception for all the sisters. The following are some photos from that event.

Sisters at the Symphony

A section of 16 sisters had seats near the front row. In the first row are Sisters Marie Julie Fecher, Annalita Lancaster, George Mary Hagan, Catherine Kaufman, and Pauletta McCarty; second row, Sisters Mary Angela Matthews, Eva Boone, Catherine Barber, Emma Cecilia Busam, Rose Marita O’Bryan, Philomena Cox, and Ruth Gehres; third row, Sisters Frances Louise Johnson, Vickie Cravens, and Mary Louise Knott.

This display of flowers, a violin and a poster detailing Sister Mary Cecilia’s impact
on the symphony greeted visitors to the RiverPark Center.

Payne family

Members of Sister Mary Cecilia Payne’s family enjoyed the concert and tribute. From left are Helen Katrina Skrivan Schleif, Sister Mary Cecilia's great niece; Hailey Schleif, great, great niece; Lauren Birdwell, great, great niece; Mary Paula Gilles Skrivan, niece; Mary Stephanie Skrivan Birdwell, great niece.

Reception

Sisters Barbara Jean Head, Ann Patrice Cecil, Annalita Lancaster, and Fran Wilhelm enjoy the reception.

Enjoy the reception

Sisters Monica Seaton, left, Philomena Cox, and Rose Marita O’Bryan enjoyed the reception.

Sisters Karla Kaelin, left, and Ruth Gehres sample some of the food at the reception.

Sr. Barbara Jean with friends

Sister Barbara Jean Head (second from right) visited with, from left, David Searles,
president of the Symphony Board of Directors; Derek Schneider, plant manager
of CMDK distillery, and his wife Lori Schneider.

Sr. Amelia and friends

Sister Amelia Stenger, left, enjoyed time with Christopher and Barbara Poynter, center, and Kathy Novick.

Sr. Michele and Carol Ann

Sister Michele Morek shares a moment with Carol Ann Walker, a member
of the Symphony Foundation Board of Governors.

Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph

Photos from Sister Mary Cecilia Payne's endowed chair presentation