On Saturday, October 17, 2009, “I'm Gonna Sing! A Tribute to the Life and Music of Sister Sue Pietrus” was presented by the Department of Music and Theatre at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.  Approximately 400 people filled the Cecilian Auditorium to hear and see a theatre film presentation, the SMWC Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, College Chorale and Madrigals perform. 

SMWC President David G. Behrs welcomed everyone and asked for a moment of silence in memory of Sister Sue Pietrus. Sister Sue received her bachelor's degree from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and returned in 1980 as a faculty member in Music Education. She was most well-known as the director of the Chorale and Madrigals. She represented The Woods conducting these groups in a Carnegie Hall performance and several international tours, including the beatification and canonization of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin.

During the concert, special songs chosen especially in memory of Sister Sue were performed, including such numbers as “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “The Leaves are Falling,” “On Justice, Truth, and Peace,” “Love is All You Need (A Tribute to the Beatles),” “For Good (from Wicked)” and “I'm Gonna Sing”.  Approximately 50 alumnae singers returned to be a part of the special memorial concert.  Alums came from as far as California, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Tennessee and Ontario, Canada, to participate. Michael Boswell, new director of the College Chorale and Madrigals, spoke of each song and the reasoning behind the choice to perform it in Sister Sue's honor.

After the concert, approximately 160 joined in the Le Fer Ballroom for a dinner and wonderful, moving slide presentation of Sister Sue's life, produced by Sharon Boyle, associate professor of music and current music therapy student Julia Lopez-Kaley.

Family and friends, through generous gifts and pledges, have raised $32,479.60 to endow the Sister Sue Pietrus Memorial Scholarship.  It will support a student pursuing a degree in a music program or an active Chorale, Madrigal, or musically-oriented student. Photos from the concert and dinner are available online.