Summer/Fall Cadenza 2024
Alesia Byrd Johnson, President
Vol. 51, No. 3
July 2024 – September 2024
FROM THE EDITOR
Welcome to the summer edition of Cadenza. In this issue you will find a complete list of the new SCS Board members, plus a report from our new president, Alesia Byrd Johnson, who took office at our May 5th meeting and program. I can tell you from attending SCS meetings and programs with her that she is very devoted to the Society, and will continue as a Supervisor of the Junior Club in addition to performing the duties of the Society’s President.
This issue also includes information regarding the upcoming 1924-25 season, with a list of dates and locations of upcoming programs. For all performing members, selecting performance dates is an important part of your commitment as performers. See information below for more details.
A recent administrative change in the St. Cecilia board is the election of former SCS President Judy Wolbert as 2nd Vice-President. After being without a 2nd V-P for two years, it was decided earlier this Spring to end our relationship with Lindhurst Administrative Support Services. Teresa provided much valuable service to the Society, especially in updating our website. Hopefully the newly formed tech support committee will keep the website running in orderly fashion.
A new feature in Cadenza is a look back at the history of the society, with a list of significant events in the Society’s past. I hope reporting on some of the highlights of our past will be meaningful to our membership, especially our newer members.
BOARD MEMBERS FOR 2024-25
President: Alesia Byrd Johnson
Recording Secretary: Glen Holcomb
First Vice-President: Kim Streby
Corresponding Secretary: Bernadette Attanga
2nd Vice-President: Judith Wolbert
Directors: Larry Adkins, Robert Hoag
Operations Treasurer: Nancy Dahle, Wendell Johnson, Doris Knoblock
Awards Treasurer: Elizabeth Cummins, Jeanette Mansour, Mary Ryan
A NOTE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
I hope you are enjoying this summer as much as Wendell and I are, with family, friends, nature, and music!
Both Wendell and I just had a wonderfully enlightening, engaging, and musical fellowship at the National Federation of Music Clubs Convention in Bettendorf, Iowa on the mighty Mississippi River. The daily schedule of events began with a gavel and lots of pomp and circumstance which was very endearing, knowing that these people really care about our history of supporting American music and musicians. We participated in discussions about Senior Clubs, Junior Divisions, a Regional (Northeastern) luncheon, a presentation on engaging federation through social media, and singing in the Festival Chorus.
There were many performances interspersed throughout the convention, including Junior and Collegiate State and National award winners, and the Happy Dog Piano Duo performing on a Pleyel double piano. It was a blessing to have met such dedicated musicians, mentors, and teachers from all over the United States. I am proud that the St. Cecilia Society of Flint is affiliated with the NFMC and MFMC and look forward to see how our adult and student members can benefit from these two organizations.
There is an updated trifold SCS-Flint membership brochure now available that can help spread the word about what our organization is all about. They are in the St. Cecilia room at the FIM. The new Society Yearbook is now being put together, so please get your membership dues in to Judy Wolbert soon. Thanks to Judy along with Robert Hoag, and Nancy Dahle for working on the Yearbook, and thanks also to Kim Streby for all your social media posts.
The coming 2024-25 season will begin with the President’s Program and Tea. This will be a fundraiser for our organization, and I hope it will help bring more awareness in the community to both our programs and membership. The Oct. 13th program will feature Eric McIntyre, guitar, Mick Karoub, cello, and Chris Tabaczynski, bass saxophone/clarinet. They will riff on ballads and blues in the style of 1920s small groups, inspired by the styles of Joe Venuti, Eddie Lange, Adrian Rollini, Johnny Dodds, Jelly Roll Morton, and Louis Armstrong, among others.
I look forward to seeing you on Sunday, Oct. 13, at 2 p.m. Keep a lookout for more info on this event. If anyone is willing to help with this project, please contact me either by email or phone.
SCHEDULE FOR 2024-25:
Note: Dates marked with * are dates available for performing members
Sun. October 13, 2 p.m. President’s Choice Program
*Sun. Nov. 10, 2 p.m. Performing Members Program
*Sun. Dec. 15, 2 p.m. Performing Members Program
Sat. Jan. 25, all day: Student Awards auditions
*Sun. Feb. 9, 2 p.m.: Performing Members Program
Sun. Feb. 23, 2 p.m. Student Awards Winners Program
Sat. March 1, all day: Byrd Competition (for strings), with Final Round at 7 p.m.
*Sun. March 9, 2 p.m. Performing Members Program (at Court St. Methodist Church)
*Sun. April 6, 2 p.m. Combined Adult Members and Student Musicale Members
*Sun. May 4, 2 p.m. Annual Meeting, Installation of officers, and Performing Member Program
NOTE: All performing members intending to perform in 2024-25 MUST select dates from those listed above, giving 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices. Your choices must be put in writing and sent to Kim Streby, 1st V-P by July 1st. They can be emailed to: [email protected]. Snailmail: Kim Streby, 1813 Montclair Ave., Flint MI 48503.
SECOND NOTE: In order to perform, all performing members MUST have their dues
paid. The actual deadline is by June 30th so names can be put into the Yearbook. Regular dues: $45, Sustaining members: $60, Benefactor Members: $100 +.
Performing members must email their program details to Kim Streby and Larry MacDonald one month before their performing date. That means 30 DAYS!!! Give proper spellings of titles and composers and send BIOs and names of accompanists. Remember: it is a privilege to perform on these Sunday programs, so take the process of choosing dates and program details seriously.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM THE PAST
October 21, 1890: Founding of the St. Cecilia Society with Nellie Bates Dort as our first President. Mrs. Dort (J. Dallas’s first wife) died in 1900.
1895: The printing of the first St. Cecilia Yearbook, which has been printed every year since its inaugural issue (except in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19).
1897: Creation of student scholarships, now called Student Awards (except for graduating high-school seniors who plan to major in music at a college or university).
1932: Founding of the St. Cecilia Community Concert Association. Concerts were held at Central High School, and later at the Michigan Theatre and Palace Theatre.
1936: The Society was restructured, with the student division divided into two groups, the Junior St. Cecilia club (elementary) and the Student Musicale (high school). Dorothy MacArthur and Helen Bloch served as Counselors of the latter group for many years.
1940: 50th anniversary events took place at the Durant Hotel on Oct. 25-26 with one of the twelve founding members, Hallie Freeman Nichols, as a special guest.
More history of the Society well be featured in upcoming issues of Cadenza. The facts presented above come from the booklet A Musical Legacy, copies of which will continue to be distributed at our regular monthly programs.
That’s all for this issue, except to announce that my latest book, Best Picture: A Critical Look at the Academy Award-Winning Films 1927-2022 is available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites, and from Dorrance Publishing. ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!!
