SPRING CADENZA 2024

FROM THE EDITOR

Spring greetings to all. I trust you have survived the winter and are ready to welcome warmer weather. As I write this newsletter, I am saddened to report the recent death of long-time SCS member and former president of the Society Delaina Oberman. As one of the most hard-working members of SCS that I can remember, Delaina will be long remembered and much missed. A lot of this newsletter will be devoted to her as a valuable asset to not only St. Cecilia, but to the many music departments in local music schools, colleges, and churches where she worked tirelessly and devotedly.

On a happier note, our February and March programs were highly successful, especially the February 25 concert given by winners of the Student Awards auditions held on Feb. 3rd. Our April program is being redesigned as a tribute to Delaina. It will include performances by some of Delaina’s former students, plus pieces featuring many award winners from the Feb. 2 auditions. It will be held at the FIM on Sunday, April 14 at 2 p.m. The Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, May 5, at 2 p.m. with a concert and reception to follow at 3:15 p.m. Performers on the May 5 program are: Kim Streby, soprano, Richard Kerry Thompson, tenor, and the Octogenarians, including sopranos Nancy Dahle and Clare Swanson, baritone Bob Hoag, and yours truly on piano.

Please spread the news of these events and encourage your family and friends to attend.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Dear St. Cecilia Friends – As we move into the busy Spring season, let us not forget our friend and colleague Delaina Oberman. She joined the Junior Club in grade school and thus contributed more than 50 years of service to St. Cecilia. She would want us to carry on and do our very best to further the cause of musical education in the Flint area.

The SC Student Musicale, dear to Delaina’s heart, continues to thrive, with many new members and award winners. We have established a program called Protecting Our Children, which includes a set of safety rules for both our students and adult counselors.

This year’s William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition featured 20 outstanding young pianists. The many volunteers from our society worked many hours to make this year’s competition special. Thanks to everyone for giving your time and positive energy.

Our performing members have done an outstanding job in recital this year. We are blessed with both young talent as well as the deepened interpretations by our more experienced performers.

At our March meeting we approved some changes to the by-laws, and elected a new slate of officers and directors to serve on our board. Afterwards we were treated to a lovely recital by four of our performing members. On April 14 we will honor Delaina with performances by many of our junior members.

On May 5 we will hold our Annual Meeting in the MacArthur Hall, followed by performances by Kim Streby, Richard Kerry Thompson, and the Octogenarians.

Please invite friends, neighbors, and colleagues to these wonderful recitals. We are in need of new members to help grow our organization and continue our support of good music in Flint, Michigan.

– Musically yours, Jean Weamer, President

STUDENT AWARDS AUDITION REPORT

The 2024 SCS Student Awards Audition was remarkable. Committee members Nancy Dahle, Alesia Johnson, and Larry MacDonald worked many hours to make sure everything went smoothly. Of the 99 auditioners, only 8 were declined awards. We gave over $24,000 in financial awards. The judges selected 34 of the winners to play on the Feb. 25 concert, which was held at the FIM on Feb 25. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make these events such a success. We are looking forward to next year’s auditions. – Nancy Dahle, Student Awards chairperson.

ST. CECILIA STUDENT MUSICALE REPORT

St. Cecilia Junior Musicale is celebrating the life of long-time SCSM counselor Delaina Oberman. We are all still in shock over her passing. On the April program her SCSM percussion students will honor her.

January’s meeting had 10 performers on the program and we talked at length about the SCS Awards Auditions. February’s meeting had 10 performers and guest Dr. Willliam Coale, theater organist. March’s meeting had 4 performers and guest St. Cecilia performing member Andrew Cramer, who gave a short performance lecture called “The Different Characters of the Piano.”

The SCS student award-winners recital was held on February 25. 34 students performed and SCS members provided a very nice celebratory reception. A BIG thank you to all who volunteered their time to help make the auditions and recital run smoothly.

– Alesia Byrd, SCSM counselor.

BYRD COMPETITION REPORT

Twenty contestants competed in the 2024 William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition for piano. According to the preliminary judge, Dr. Howard Watkins, these musicians may have been the most talented we have ever had!

The winner is Zhengi “Frank” Huang. At age 14, Huang moved from China to the U.S. alone to study with Dr. Hershberger in Fargo, ND. Following high school, he earned his Bachelor’s degree at Rice University, a Master’s at UM in Ann Arbor, and is currently working toward an
Artist’s diploma at Rice Univ. Huang played Piano Concerto No. 1 by Sergei Rachmaninov, and will perform with the FSO in February, 2025.

Second place was awarded to Bogang Hwang from South Korea. She received a BM at Seoul National University and an Artist’s Diploma at Colburn Conservatory. The three runners up are Benjamin Keating, Zuhao Liu, and Jairui Cheng. The three judges for the event were Dr. Kara Huber (Interlochen Arts Academy), Dr. Jennifer Muniz (Indiana Univ.), and Ralph Votapek (Professor Emeritus, MSU). Whether you made a financial contribution, helped physically, or both, thank you to all who made the 2025 Byrd competition a big success!

The next Byrd competition is for strings and will take place on March 1, 2025.
– Carol Hinterman, Byrd Competition chairperson.

IN MEMORIAM

The Society as a whole deeply mourns the loss of Delaina Oberman. Her funeral was held on Sat, March 22, at Faith Lutheran Church in Grand Blanc. Since Delaina was a private music instructor for so long, the Society is considering an award fund in Delaina’s honor that would assist young students with lesson fees. To contribute, checks should be made out and sent to: St. Cecilia Society, 1025 E. Kearsley St., Flint, MI 48503.

There have been many written comments made by members of St. Cecilia. One of the most moving has come from Delaina’s former student and SCS member Rob Kratz. Here it is:

I remember my first lesson like it was yesterday, playing “The Victors” on marimba and thus learning Delaina was a UM graduate and huge fan. Over the years she became a mix of mother, the cool aunt, a role model, a counselor, a mentor, a trusted colleague, and a good friend. She taught me (and hundreds of other students) about hard work, independence, responsibility, and teamwork. Mixed in with all of that was also learning how to play music! She was a master teacher – her students in the ‘80s and ‘90s were doing things that the rest of the world is just now catching up with. Delaina went above and beyond for her students, giving up her days off to attend our performances, turning 30-minute lessons into 60-minute lessons, and making sure we knew of every scholarship opportunity that was out there. If I was 1/10 of the teacher she was, then I would consider myself to be a success. I was honored to be a part of the percussion department [at FSPA] that she built and to spend 12 years of my career teaching in the very same room that I had my first lesson in, knowing that Delaina was in the room next door if I needed anything. You will be missed, Delaina Oberman, but your amazing legacy will live on in the countless lives you touched.

I think that about says it all. Here’s to God’s new percussionist in the beyond. Have a healthy summer.