Summer Cadenza 2022
Kim Heath Streby, President
Vol. 49, No. 2
Larry MacDonald, Editor
March 2022 – May 2022
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Our next program will be at 2 PM on Sunday, February 27th in the MacArthur Recital Hall of FIM. This performance will feature the 25 winners of the St. Cecilia Student Awards Audition, which was on Saturday, January 29th at FIM. Ranging in ages from seven to 18, these students will be performing a wide variety of music, from elementary-level selections to pieces by such renowned composers as J.S. Bach, Beethoven, Handel, Kabalevsky, Saint-Saëns, and more! The students will be performing on piano, organ, violin, cello, string bass, flute, guitar, and accordion. We hope to see you at this performance.
FROM THE EDITOR
The performance held on Sunday, December 12th was highly enjoyable and well-attended, especially in view of Covid concerns. Both Nancy Dahle and Glen Holcomb sang well, and my piano transcription of the music from the movie Ben-Hur was well received. Also enjoyable was the performance on February 13th of a wide variety of vocal music by four of our vocal performing members, which included two new members, Tracy McDonough and Robert Hoag. The songs performed by our President, Kim Streby, and longtime performing member David Lindsey were also worthy of praise.
We are looking forward to finishing this season with performances by many of our other performing members.
- Our adult members will be joined on both March 13th and April 3rd by members of the St. Cecilia Student Musicale.
- The SCS performing members on March 13th will include Delaina Oberman, percussion, and Tiffany Thorpe, soprano.
- Terrence Stewart, baritone, Richard Kerry Thompson, tenor, and Kyle Canjar, guitar, will be featured on Sunday, April 3rd.
- On Friday, May 6th, we will have our annual meeting at 10:30 AM in the MacArthur Hall. The plans for the luncheon are not confirmed yet, but there will be a recital beginning at 1:15 PM, with SCS members Mary Procopio, flute, and Stephanie Dean, soprano.
- A delightful surprise is in store for the May 6th. I have just confirmed that our 2021-2022 college award winner Anne-Marie Atanga, who is a freshman at U of M in Ann Arbor, will perform on this program. There is more about Anne-Marie further into this newsletter.
All in all, despite the restrictions imposed by the Covid pandemic, I feel that we have had a good year thus far. Let us all rejoice in the fact that St. Cecilia continues to sponsor the Byrd Competition and the Student Awards auditions, and in so doing, the Society helps talented young musicians find opportunities to perform and win financial support for their musical studies.
NEWS FROM ALESIA ABOUT ST. CECILIA STUDENT MUSICALE
The St. Cecilia Society Student Musicale 21/22 has been meeting via Zoom and in person at FIM’s MacArthur Recital Hall. Our membership has grown from 30 to 47 students ranging in age from seven to 18! We have had guests from SCS (Larry MacDonald, piano; Mary Procopio, flute, along with Dirk Nieuwenhuis, saxophone; and Delaina Oberman, percussion) perform and give demonstrations. Thanks to Teresa Lindhurst for assisting with Zoom and Delaina Oberman for her continuing support of this group.
FROM THE STUDENT AWARDS CHAIRMAN, NANCY DAHLE
Hello! This is Nancy Dahle saying how glad we are still up and running, and we are happy to report that we have our Student Awards Auditions up and running again. We have funds in the bank for deserving students who have been studying with a private teacher. This year we had 28 students, ranging from seven to 18, who came to the FIM on Saturday, January 29th. Ely Costello and Rob Kratz-Hahn, our judges, selected 25 winners. The concert will be in the MacArthur Hall on February 27th.
FROM BYRD CHAIRMAN, CAROL HINTERMAN
The 50th William C. Byrd Young Artists Competition will take place in the MacArthur Hall at the FIM on March 5, 2022. The discipline for this year is winds & brass. As it now stands, the auditions will go from 9:45 AM to 5 PM, with a lunch break from 12:30 PM until 1:15 PM.
Both the auditions and the final round are free and open to the public. The five finalists’ program will begin at 7 PM sharp. You are welcome to attend these events if you are fully vaccinated and wear a mask properly.
The Byrd dinner will be held in the Atrium at 5 PM. The cost is $25 per person. Reservations should be made with Elizabeth Cummins Dean, either by email, phone, or mail.
Elizabeth Cummins Dean
2566 Nolen Dr.
Flint, MI 48504
810-265-9738
Ushers are still needed to hand out programs starting at 6:30 PM. If you can help, please contact Bev Gillie at bevgillie@yahoo.com or 810-695-1104. Due to Covid, there will be no Afterglow following the final round, but 50th Anniversary Souvenirs will be handed out instead.
EXCERPTS OF LETTER FROM ANNE-MARIE ATANGA TO KIM STREBY
(e-mailed on January 17, 2022)
I would just like to thank you all again for your generous scholarship…I am at the University of Michigan pursuing a dual degree in neuroscience and voice performance…I would like to share some of the highlights of Fall 2021.
- I got A’s and A+’s which gave me a 4.0 GPA.
- I sang in three voice department recitals.
- I performed in the ensemble of an operetta and was cast in a featured role.
- I joined the software team of Michigan Neuroprosthetics.
- I joined the Black Undergraduate Medical Association.
- I was able to see the world-renowned tenor, Jonas Kaufman, thanks to the U of M’s Student Discount.
Thank you so much again for making my dream possible.
HONOR ROLL: ALMEDA HUNTER (1914-2014)
Almeda was born in Kennett, Missouri, to Elmo and Ethel Lee Blakemore. With her three brothers, the family moved to Flint in 1923, where Almeda graduated from Flint Northern High in 1932. She married “her Joe,” Joseph Hunter, in 1937, and they had three children: Eleanor, David, and Nancy. For many years, Almeda worked for the Albert Koegel company. She retired after Joe’s death in 1976.
Subsequently, Almeda became very active in many organizations, including the St. Cecilia Society, which she joined in 1962, served as Treasurer, and then spent 1992-94 as President. Additionally, Almeda was President of the Allegro Club and was awarded the J. Dallas Dort Award in 1988. She also served on the Board of the Flint Institute of Music for many years.
The crowning achievement of Almeda’s long career as a volunteer was the period of 1990 to 2011, during which time she was chairman of the William C. Byrd Young Artists Competition. Her affection for all of the Byrd contestants that she met over the years is just one of the many distinguishing elements in Almeda’s great success as an advocate for talented young musicians.
IN MEMORANDIUM
Susan Timyan
SCS 50-year member and President (1964-66)
Carol Gatza
longtime member and piano accompanist
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE ISSUES
We welcome your thoughts and ideas on how to make Cadenza a more viable part of the Society’s ministry to support music in the Flint area.
St. Cecilia Society is a member of the National and Michigan Federation of Music Clubs. For information, contact stceciliaflint@gmail.com
