Summer Cadenza 2023
Jean Weamer, Presidents
Vol. 50, No. 3
Larry MacDonald, Editor
July 2023 – September 2023
FROM THE EDITOR
Summer greetings from the Cadenza editor. As you should know, the St. Cecilia Society concluded another successful year on Friday, May 5, 2023, with our annual meeting, installation of officers, and a highly enjoyable program that featured the Octogenarians, our senior performing ensemble, that regrettably lost one of its founding members, Janet Walworth, back in January. As a pianist (and beyond the qualifying age of 80 by two years), I have taken the reins as the group’s accompanist.
The May 5th program included such Broadway hits as “A Cockeyed Optimist” and “If Ever I Would Leave You,” plus arrangements by John Ness Beck of such well-known hymns as “The King of Love My Shepherd Is.” The expert singing by Clare Swanson, Robert Hoag, and Nancy Dahle added to the enjoyment by a small but enthusiastic audience. One of the program’s most memorable highlights was Nancy’s singing of “I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked,” which was sung with a recorded accompaniment that was made by Janet Walworth some months before her death.
The Society is looking forward to a new season that will begin on October 15th with the President’s Choice program that will feature guest pianist Cliff Monear and his jazz combo. This event promises to be a highly memorable way of ushering in a new season. A complete list of dates for 2023-2024 will be found later in this newsletter.
– Larry MacDonald
SCS OFFICERS FOR 2023-2024
The New Board consists of the following, with some members newly elected in March:
- President: Jean Weamer
- 1st Vice-President: Tom Travis
- 2nd Vice President for Membership: Open
- Treasurer of Operating Funds: Nancy Dahle
- Treasurer of Awards Funds: Elizabeth Cummings
- Recording Secretary: Jeanette Mansour
- Corresponding Secretary: Alesia Byrd Johnson
- Directors (Newly Elected): Ann Eastman, Elaine Noake
- Directors (Continuing): Bernadette Atanga; Doris Knoblock; Larry Mac Donald; and Kim Heath Streby, Ex-Officio
REPORT ON THE MFMC CONVENTION
I attended the Michigan Federation of Music Clubs annual convention in Ann Arbor, held on May 18-20, 2023. There were 44 registered attendees. Friday, May 19th started with a business meeting about changing some of the bylaws. Then there was a presentation by NFMC Junior Division Chair, Laurie M. Marshall, about the Junior division. I learned about the Junior Keynotes magazine and NFMC suggested a repertoire book to use for students in State and National student competitions. There are also student composition and dance scholarships at the State and National Level.
Kazimierz Brzozowski, piano soloist and teacher from Wayne State, gave a music study workshop on “Chopin and Dances.”
A memorial service took place at which many deceased members were acknowledged, including St. Cecilia-Flint members Nancy Lee Fawcett, Mary Jane Ford, Rhina Griffel, Eileen Scott, and Janet Walworth. Annual reports were given and were all printed in the Profiles booklet. The new MFMC board members were installed.
During the Dinner Gala the MFMC Citation Awards were given, and a recital was presented by some of the MFMC 2023 Junior and Collegiate award winners. Saturday, May 20, was student/junior day for pianists. Dr. Helen Marlais gave a presentation “From Average to Stellar: GUIDING Students to their Best Performance,” and Catherin Rollin gave a presentation on “Developing and Enjoying a Creative Mind.” Also featured was the NFMC Festival Junior Recital.
– Alesia Byrd Johnson
ST. CECILIA STUDENT MUSICALE REPORT
During the 2022-2023 year there were 48 members in the St. Cecilia Student Musicale (SCSM). The season ended with a combined program on April 14th that featured SCS members Townes Osborn Miller, flutist, and Delaina Oberman, percussionist. In addition, seven SCSM members performed, including violinist Hannah Belill, pianists Alex Harvey, Nicholas Sepanak, and Caleb Petty, and percussionists Bradlee Coggins, Samuel Belill, and Kenneth Edson. A highlight of the program was a piece entitled “Milo’s March,” which featured all three of the young percussion players along with their teacher, Delaina Oberman. It was a joy for the audience in the MacArthur Hall to hear these young performers playing so expertly.
SCSM counselor Alesia reports the following dates for the SCSM programs in the upcoming season which will take place on Sundays at 2 PM in the MacArthur Hall at FIM. They include
- October 1, 2023
- November 5, 2023
- December 3, 2023
- January 7, 2024
- February 4, 2024
- March 3, 2024
- April 14, 2024
The last program on this list will again feature both SCSM members and adult St. Cecilia performing members. Adults are welcome to attend any or all of the St. Cecilia Student Musicale programs.
SCHEDULE FOR 2023-2024
- Sunday, October 15, 2023: President’s Choice Program featuring Jazz with Cliff Monear
- Sunday, November 12, 2023
- Sunday, December 10, 2023
- Sunday, February 11, 2024
- Sunday, February 25, 2024: Student Award Winners
- Sat, March 2, 2024: Byrd Competition Finals, 7 PM
- Sunday, March 10, 2024, at Court St. Methodist Church
- Sunday, April 14, 2024
- Sunday, May 5, 2024, with Annual Meeting and Program
All programs will be at 2 PM in the MacArthur Hall of FIM. The only exception is March 10, 2024 (see above). More information to follow.
Performing Members: Pick your dates, and email Tom Travis at tomntravis@gmail.com.
BYRD COMPETITION REPORT
This year’s winner, Antona Yost, mezzo-soprano, has been scheduled to perform with the Flint Symphony in their upcoming concert on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at the Whiting Auditorium. She will perform a Detskaya (The Nursery) by Modest Mussorgsky as part of an all-Russian program. The next Byrd competition will feature piano contestants and will be held at the FIM on Saturday, March 2, 2024. The success of the Byrd depends on the involvement of volunteers. To become involved in the activities scheduled for next March, contact competition chair Carol Hinterman, (810) 964-9399, cahinte@yahoo.com, or chairman@ByrdArtists.com.
IN MEMORIAM
Many long-time and devoted members of St. Cecilia have passed away during the last several months, many of whom are named in Alesia’s report about the recent State Convention. Others that have passed include Mary Ann Crugher Balduf and Joseph Green, husband of Jeanette Mansour. One further person worth naming is Carolyn Warren, a longtime member whose death in 2020 didn’t get reported to the Society until recently. Carolyn was a speech instructor at MCC and a great music enthusiast.
If you know of others that should be listed in our newsletter, please let us know by contacting the Cadenza editor, Larry MacDonald at (810) 767-9418 or larmacd@yahoo.com.
ST. CECILIA YEARBOOK
There is a plan to produce a yearbook for the Society’s 2023-2024 season, but it cannot be accomplished without the help of the membership. If you can be of any assistance, whether it involves typing lists or checking information from previous yearbooks to ensure correctness, your help with be greatly appreciated. If you can assist in any way, please contact a St. Cecilia board member ASAP. Some phone numbers to call: Jean Weamer, (810) 938-3919; Nancy Dahle, (810) 513-3723; Tom Travis, (810) 348-5615; or Larry MacDonald, (810) 767-9418. For email addresses consult this year’s yearbook.
CONCERNING 2023-2024 DUES
As of June 20, about half of the SCS members have renewed their membership. If you haven’t paid for 2023-2024, please respond NOW! These are the of types of memberships:
- Associate, Performing, and Privileged Members: $45
- Sustaining Members: $60
- Benefactor Members: $100+
The deadline for dues payment is June 30. Payments can be sent via PayPal (link on website) or via check. Please address and send all checks to:
St. Cecilia Society
c/o FIM
1025 E. Kearsley St.
Flint, MI 48503
If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Dahle, Treasurer.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP ST. CECILIA
While paying dues is an important part of being a SCS member, you should consider becoming more active in the Society. A top priority is planning to attend all our programs on Sunday afternoons. A second and even more important aspect of membership is becoming involved in a committee. To serve on a tea or hospitality committee, please contact Nancy Dahle. For the Byrd, contact Carol Hinterman.
For the Yearbook committee, contact those members whose names are mentioned on p. 3. We cannot survive without the help of our membership. One further reminder: If you are on our email list and prefer a mailed print copy of the newsletter, please contact our business manager, Teresa Lindhurst, teresa@lindhurstservices.com, or phone Larry MacDonald at (810) 767-9418.
As your Cadenza editor, I always welcome your comments. HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!!!
St. Cecilia Society is a member of the National and Michigan Federation of Music Clubs. For information, contact stceciliaflint@gmail.com
