Sunday Singer Showcase Series - I'll be one of six performers playing 25 - 30 minutes each.

Opening act for Nate Currin

I will be one of two 1969 alumni who will welcome the 2025 Anniversary Week. The other is Barry Adelman, co-founder of Music for Humanity. We will each sing a few songs to welcome the event, and then continue playing for the welcoming cocktail party.

Carlene Thissen singing vintage folk, country, light rock, current pop.

Carlene Thissen singing vintage folk, country, light rock, current pop.

Carlene Thissen with a presentation and performance of music and histories of Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell, and Joan Baez

Singing covers and originals, vintage folk, country, light rock, and current pop.

Acoustic performances by Carlene Thissen, Andy Jones, and Hudson Crossing bluegrass.

Presentation and performance of Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez histories and music.

Presentation overview of Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell, and Joan Baez with performances of several of each of their songs.

Singing and playing guitar, covers and originals. Baez-style vintage folk, country, light rock, current pop.

I'll be singing my favorite songs, both covers and originals. My style is varied, but a combination of old folk, contemporary folk, old country, new country, light rock ---- basically all called Americana. Come on out and make a request!

The St. Clare Secular Franciscans will be hosting Carlene Thissen, the author of Immokalee’s Fields of Hope, a story of Mexican, Haitian, and Guatemalan immigrants. Thissen shares the personal stories that immigrants told her, framed with the political and social histories of their countries. All are welcome at this informative presentation/book signing. Cost: Free will offering for coffee and donuts eMail for more information: bsanfordSFO@gmail.com

I'll be doing a combination of genres (folk, contemporary, country, light rock, decades, originals.) Come back in time with me and sing along!

Annual Fundraiser Community Tag Sale - with live music including ME!!!

Carlene Thissen shares her memories of the original Woodstock festival. What drew a half million people together in 1969 for three days of peace and music? August 2019 was the 50th Anniversary of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair. This historical musical presentation explains the political, social and cultural events that led up to the festival and why it will likely never happen again. The instructor attended the festival in 1969 and shares her personal memories mixed with her historian’s perspective in a multimedia presentation. Hippie attire is welcome. $32, $27 members

Based on the book she researched and wrote about him, Carlene Thissen narrates Father Sanders' story with pictures and songs that describe the man and the people who loved him. Father Richard Sanders served as the only priest in Immokalee in the early 1980s, at the height of farm worker immigration, people who came to provide labor to continuously growing agriculture in Southwest Florida. Many believe he was a saint, and some say they saw Jesus in him. Previously a Trappist Monk at Mepkin Abbey in South Carolina, Father Sanders felt called from the silence of Mepkin Abbey to be of service first to poor Black people and later, Hispanic farm workers. He founded Naples’ first Spanish Mission at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Naples and was then transferred to Immokalee where he empowered the farm workers for four years before he died at age 47. $27 members, $32 non-members

Carlene Thissen attended the original Woodstock festival. What drew a half million people together in 1969 for three days of peace and music? August 2019 was the 50th Anniversary of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair. This historical musical presentation explains the political, social and cultural events that led up to the festival and why it will likely never happen again. The instructor attended the festival in 1969 and shares her personal memories mixed with her historian’s perspective in a multimedia presentation. Hippie attire is welcome. $32, $27 for members

Tour leader: Carlene Thissen The bus will depart North Naples at 9am. An all-day tour of Immokalee, beginning with samples at Lali's Mexican Bakery; then a look at Immokalee's early history at the Pioneer Museum; RCMA's beautiful Immokalee historical mural; a drive through several new housing communities; a visit to Lake Trafford Memorial Gardens where the graves are decorated in a way that seems to keep the dead alive; lunch on your own at Lozano’s restaurant; shopping at the Farmer’s Market; a visit to Mision Peniel, a communal garden for food preparation and distribution; and a quick drive through neighboring Ave Maria on the way home! $130, $110 for FGCU Academy members

JUDY, JONI, & JOAN TRIBUTE - November 5, 7:00, Norris Center Gulfshore Playhouse. Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell, and Joan Baez are icons of the 1960s and 70s folk music revival in the U.S. Carlene Thissen honors their influence with a concert performance of their tunes and includes behind the scenes intimate stories that inspired the songs - accompanied by Ben Baker on guitar and Stuart Shelton on piano. Tickets $15. https://www.eventbrite.com/.../judy-joni-joan-at-norris... To purchase without a service fee, you can call the box office any time at 239-213-3049 or email us directly boxoffice@naplesgov.com.

An all-day bus tour of Immokalee, including the history of the community, Mexican bakery samples, RCMA's historical mural and migrant early education center, Habitat for Humanity, Lake Trafford Memorial Gardens, Marina, Pioneer Museum, lunch at Lozano's restaurants, a stop at the Farmer's Market and a quick drive through Ave Maria on the way home! Departure information will be emailed three days before the trip. Members $46, non-members $54

Getting your song to market is often an even bigger challenge than writing them in the first place. This lecture will cover professional demos; copyrights; performing rights organizations; pitching songs to publishers; free streaming music and how to still make money and basics of live performing. $24 members/$29 non-members.

I'll be singing at this very cool place while a wonderful painter paints. Come join us!

This class will teach you how to create melodies for original songs, including simple music theory and concepts. That will include an examination of various genres of music and how they differ; the importance of notes and chord structure to convey moods and ideas in songs. Attendees are welcome to bring their own ideas and partially finished songs for discussion.

Class I of Song Writing basics explores simplified music concepts for non-musicians plus examples of lyric writing and how it is different from poetry. Attendees may bring ideas and partially finished songs to review.

An all-day bus tour of Immokalee, including the history of the community, Mexican bakery samples, RCMA's historical mural and migrant early education center, Habitat for Humanity, Lake Trafford Memorial Gardens, Marina, Pioneer Museum, lunch at Lozano's restaurants, a stop at the Farmer's Market and a quick drive through Ave Maria on the way home! Departure information will be emailed three days before the trip. Members $46, non-members $54

Carlene Thissen, Karen Cohen and Carolyn Stanley will perform a "writers round," where each of the songwriters performs one original song at a time. FREE!

This lecture discusses the 21st century shift from large numbers of independent growers to three large corporations that dominate Immokalee's agriculture today; how traditional crew leaders fit into the corporate environment; immigration; the rise of Hispanics in farm management and the laws that protect farm workers.

Stories & Songs, a dynamic performance by three completely different kinds of performers, will take you back to places and times you hold dear, enlighten you with new stories, and generate beautiful memories that will stay with you long after this incredible evening! Performers: Carlene Thissen, Tim McGeary, and Dianna Fox Tickets will be $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

This class briefly reviews Immokalee's early history and that of its immigrants up to 2000, then changes and the emergence of second, third and fourth generation Americans as Immokalee's dominant population. Education, sports, and non-profits who help are included. $24 members/$29 non-members

Singing mostly original songs about Carlene's experiences in the Immokalee community over the last 20 years.

Private group of wisdom-seeking people. Tour includes Immokalee's mural and RCMA childcare center, Lake Trafford Memorial Gardens, the Produce Market, lunch at Lozano's, and two hour-long meetings with Immokalee leaders to discuss immigration, migration, xenophobia, changes over the years and the vision of Immokalee's future.

An all-day bus tour of Immokalee, including the history of the community, Mexican bakery samples, RCMA's historical mural and migrant early education center, Habitat for Humanity, Lake Trafford Memorial Gardens, Marina, Pioneer Museum, lunch at Lozano's restaurants, a stop at the Farmer's Market and a quick drive through Ave Maria on the way home! Departure information will be emailed three days before the trip. Members $46, non-members $54

This lecture will explore the music of Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez in the historical context of events that influenced their music, while their music influenced culture and politics. $24 members, $29

What drew a half million people together in 1969 for three days of peace and music? Carlene Thissen attended both the original Woodstock in 1969 and the 50th Anniversary celebration at the original site in Bethel, NY. She shares her personal memories mixed with her historian's perspective in a multimedia presentation. $24 members, $29 non-members

Carlene will be singing, backed up by her guitar and piano, plus entertain with stories in between.

Come celebrate Woodstock with the Friends of the Collier County Museum. Carlene will tell stories and sing songs in between the dance band, The Galaxies. Full hippie attire recommended.

Carlene is a tour guide for this fascinating day visiting our nearby neighbor, Immokalee. Sights include RCMA's historical mural, the Collier County Pioneer Museum; Lake Trafford memorial gardens; Lake Trafford marina and rustic zoo; lunch at Lozano's restaurant; the newly constructed Our Lady of Guadalupe catholic church; produce shopping at the Farmer's Market; a stop at the Mexican bakery and a drive-through on the way home of nearby Ave Maria.