The Krewe honors a woman each year who embodies the sprit of one of the nine muses selected that season. Honorary Muses are chosen for having made a significant contribution to the New Orleans community in the area that the Muse represents.

2008 - Polymnia, Muse of Sacred Song - Marva Wright
Known as Louisiana's Blues Queen, "Marvelous Marva" is a gospel and soul powerhouse. She has performed in venues all over the world - including the U.S., France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Russia, Norway, Sweden, and Brazil. Wright has collaborated with many talented musicians including Harry Connick Jr., Bobby McFerrin, Aaron Neville, Fats Domino, Lou Rawls, and Marcia Ball.

2007 - Erato, the Muse of Poetry - Brenda Marie Osbey

Brenda Marie Osbey, the Poet Laureate of the State of Louisiana, has taught numerous literature subjects around the country and has twice been appointed visiting writer-in residence at Tulane University and scholar-in-residence at Southern University. She has conducted seminars and colloquia in literature, creative writing and New Orleans black culture. A native of New Orleans, Brenda is the author of All Saints: New and Selected Poems (LSU Press, 1997), which received the 1998 American Book Award. She is the author also of Desperate Circumstance, Dangerous Woman (Story Line Press, 1991), In These Houses (Wesleyan University Press, 1988) and Ceremony for Minneconjoux (Callaloo Poetry Series, 1983; University Press of Virginia, 1985). Her poems have appeared in numerous journals, anthologies and collections.

2006 - Urania, the Muse of Astronomy - Becky Zaheri
Muse Becky Zaheri is the founder of the Katrina Krewe. The Katrina Krewe has organized over 1,000 volunteers to clean up the streets of New Orleans twice a week. Muses is proud to be able to honor one of our own members with a ride in the fabulous shoe float.

2005 - Euterpe, the Muse of Music - Charmaine Neville
Charmaine began her career backing up the Neville Brothers and went on to perform with the Survivors, a band whose alumni list includes Harry Connick Jr. and Bobby McFerrin. Time Magazine named Charmaine Neville, the best pair of lungs [in New Orleans], and stated that her “delightful scat-singing and good-humored blues … had visitors dancing in the aisles at the Snug Harbor bar.” Her work has paid off - as one reviewer recently wrote, "Charmaine Neville is beginning to rival her father and uncles in terms of popularity in New Orleans."

2004 - Thalia, the Muse of Comedy- Becky Allen

2003 - Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance- Maria Giacobbe

2002 - Clio, the Muse of History- Cherice Harrison-Nelson


" Happy are they whom the Muses love." Hesiod


© Krewe of Muses, 2008