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CoverGirls Violns with Chicago

Our Chicago Story

by Jennifer Lowe

CoverGirls Violins with Chicago
CoveGirls Violns with Chicago
with Peter S.jpg

In the Spring of 2018, The CoverGirls Violins were honored to be invited to perform at a Charity Gala in New York City. After our set, a gentleman from the event gestured to a guest who wanted to meet us, he added.. "he's the Manager of the band Chicago." I met Peter Schivarelli and his beautiful wife, Denise, that night and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Peter loved our NYC performance and as someone who is always looking to find new and fresh approaches for the band, he invited us to join Chicago on stage for 3 songs on their upcoming performance at the Allstate Arena in June, 2018. Peter was incredibly generous with his time and oh, the stories he told! Over the dozens of conversations we had leading up to our June show, I learned that we were the first women to share the stage with Chicago in over 50 years of performing. That, to me, is a breathtaking honor, and one that is well-deserved for this group of extraordinary women. 

 

That June show was the thrill of a lifetime for us, playing songs we all grew up with and recreating the lush, iconic string lines from the original recordings in front of 14,000 fans. Little did we know it was "Only the Beginning.." 

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That 2018 performance sparked the invitation for us to join Chicago in February 2019, on stage for nearly 50 minutes of their show each night during their 3-week Residency at the Venetian Theater in Las Vegas! After 9 nine years of playing, dancing, laughing and crying together as friends and colleagues, I couldn't imagine a bigger honor or a better way for us to commemorate our 10th Anniversary Year.

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Not only was our time in Residency with Chicago the musical highlight of a career, we found every single person on that stage to be not only an incredible musician, but kind, funny and humble. With Robert, Lee & Jimmy (the Originals) there is a vibrant, joyful energy in their presence, and a legendary gravitas that fills the stage. Just wow!

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We have enjoyed every minute of this incredible experience and eagerly look forward to the next opportunity. Thank you Peter, Lee, Robert, Jimmy, Lou, Keith, Ray, Brett, Neil, Wally & Rayray (plus Steve and all the amazing production staff) for changing our lives in the most wonderful way! 

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We Are Blessed!  XO

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CoveGirls Violin with Chicago
CoverGirls Violins with Chicago
CoverGirls Vioins with Chicago
backstage lee.JPG
Theater.JPG
CoverGirls Violins with Chicago
CoerGirls Violins with Chicago
Gustafson composite 2.jpg

(Click photos to zoom)

with Lee Loughnane

with Peter Schivarelli

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with Ray Yslas, Lee Loughnane, Brett Simons, Lou Pardini

with Jimmy Pankow

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with Neil Donell

with Lee Loughnane

The Venetian Theater

Photo composite courtesy of Todd Gustafson

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