Recent News (below)

– Artists begin support of Kerry campaign (May 18, 2004)

– New tour dates added: San Francisco in May (May 2, 2004)

– News Flash: Rumsfeld expresses shock and awe upon hearing Rumsfeld CD (May 1, 2004)

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Artists begin support of Kerry campaign
May 18, 2004

Elender Wall and Bryant Kong will begin their support of the John Kerry for President campaign at two House Parties for Kerry in San Francisco on Sat, May 22, 2004. Hosts Ron & Debbie Addad and Ken & Kathy Hoegger have invited the artists to perform their signature work, The Poetry of Donald Rumsfeld, at the fundraising events.

Wall and Kong aim to perform many more times in support of the Kerry for President campaign. To this end, they are in contact with the campaign itself as well as various independent groups supporting Kerry.

For the San Francisco house parties, guests are asked to consider donating $100, $250, or $500 to help ensure that John Kerry has the resources necessary to combat Bush/Cheney attack ads in key battleground states. Also performing are soprano Helen Dilworth, baritone Christopher Wells, and pianist Vladimir Romanancov. Guests will be able to enjoy a hosted wine bar and delicious food.

A limited number of spaces are available for the House Parties for Kerry. To inquire about attending, see our concert information page.

New tour dates added: San Francisco in May

May 2, 2004

Two new concerts have just been added to the Weapons of Mass Distraction Tour for Poetry of Donald Rumsfeld fans in the San Francisco Bay Area.

On Tues, May 11, 2004, at 11:00 am, alumna Elender Wall will return to City College of San Francisco with Bryant Kong to present highlights from their new album, including the complete Poetry of Donald Rumsfeld, for the CCSF community. A limited number of seats are available to the public for this free concert.

On Sun, May 23, 2004, at 5:00 pm, Wall and Kong will bring new music to an old-fashioned salon setting, the Victorian Englander House, as part of the San Francisco Classical Music Concerts series. Located at 807 Franklin St. at Turk near Opera Plaza, the venue is a beautiful Victorian mansion built in 1880 and authentically furnished. Tickets are $15 regular admission, $12 senior and students with valid ID, and are available for sale online.

For more details or to reserve seats for the new concerts, see our concert information page.

Or go here for the full Weapons of Mass Distraction tour schedule.

News Flash: Rumsfeld expresses shock and awe upon hearing Rumsfeld CD

May 1, 2004

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld expressed his shock and awe recently at hearing his words sung by soprano Elender Wall on the new CD, The Poetry of Donald Rumsfeld and Other Fresh American Art Songs. After CNN featured the innovative songs by composer Bryant Kong, Rumsfeld was asked to comment at a meeting of the Newspaper Assocation of America and the American Society of Newspaper Editors on April 22, 2004.

"Somebody gave me a copy of this thing," said the Secretary, "and here is this woman with a wonderful voice singing my press conferences. Now, if that doesn't tell you something about the state of the world!"

Rumsfeld did not elaborate further. CNN aired his response—captured on video at the meeting—on April 24.

And what was the artists' reaction to Rumsfeld's enigmatic comment? "We're making it into a song," said Kong.

It was unclear whether Kong was being serious.