Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Find in all years, or only checked years:




Or, view 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 or all years.

Song use statistics are also available.

Keystone Sacred Harp Singing Convention

Arch Street Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

January 26-27, 2002

Saturday, January 26

The fourth annual session of the Keystone Sacred Harp Singing Convention was held on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in January at the Arch Street Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Beginning in 2003, the Convention will move to the third Sunday in January and Saturday before.

Chairman Doron Henkin called the class to order at 10:00 a.m. leading song on page 48t. The Rev. Clayton Ames offered the opening prayer. Doron Henkin welcomed everyone and led song on page 49b.

Leaders: Gabriel Kastelle 33t; Laura Densmore 155; Marian McKenzie 184; Ted Stokes 53; Ginny Landgraf 162; Hal Kunkel 492; Molly Sayvetz 66; Walter Smith 192; Susan Munch 278b; Thom Metzger 101b; Donna Abrahams 200; John Brode 375; Barbara Swetman 335; John Redman 475; Sandra Hack Polaski 84; Roland Hutchinson 254.

RECESS

Paula McGray brought the class to order by leading song on page 47t. Leaders: John delRe 157; Liz Cusick 178; Guy Bankes 68b; Ellie Soler 277; Eileen Metzger 102; Don Polaski 112; Gina Balestracci 29b; Paula McGray 187; Donna Abrahams and Cynthia Swick 65; Adrian Mariano 27; Diane Mennella 270; Joni Seidenstein 551; Nancy Yeager 45t; David Yeager 32b.

RECESS

Barbara Swetman called the class back to order leading song on page 148. Leaders: Doron Henkin 358; Hal Kunkel 348b.

Paula McGray led the memorial lesson and song on page 52b for the sick and shut-ins. She remarked that times of sickness could sometimes help us acknowledge our own mortality. This acknowledgement can lead to a more perfect trust and reliance in our Maker and in those around us. Those sick and shut-ins remembered were: Coy Ivey—Alabama; Marilyn Darch—California; Dot Garber—Connecticut; Martha Lang—Massachusetts; Betty Kelsky—New Jersey; Kyra Bean, Nancy Crawford, and Louis Rosenberg—New York; Grace Jeschke, Charles Rhyne, Howard Johnson, and Eric Matthews—Pennsylvania.

Gina Balestracci led the memorial lesson and song on page 38b for the deceased. She spoke on the events of 9-11-01, and how her life and the lives of those around her who witnessed the events changed that day. She told us of singing Sacred Harp with the Manhattan group soon afterwards, and how helpful that singing had been to console those gathered there. Sacred Harp songs do not hesitate to face death straight on, and they minister to us in these dark and trying times. Those remembered were: Freeman Wootten—Alabama; Mary Kay Friday—District of Columbia; Richard Hooke—Massachusetts; Juan Infante, Linda Smart, Don DiFranco, Bertram Coplon, and Henry Barrow—New York; Doris Johnson—Texas; John Hall, Bob Todd, Barbara Smith, and Joanna Sorlien—Pennsylvania. Rev. Clayton Ames closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

Leaders: Laura Densmore 528; Thom Metzger 99; Ginny Landgraf 397; John Brode 312t. Ginny Landgraf offered the blessing for the noonday meal.

LUNCH

Susan Munch called the afternoon session to order by leading song on page 312b. Leaders: Michael Kaye 455; Walter Smith 497; Molly Sayvetz 299; Ted Stokes 298; Sandra Hack Polaski 268; Marian McKenzie 428; Roland Hutchinson 543; Gabriel Kastelle 365; Don Polaski 362; Gina Balestracci 137; Duran Perkins 107; Ellie Soler 143; Donna Abrahams 212; John Redman 361; Paula McGray 150.

RECESS

Doron Henkin called the class to order leading song on page 56b. Leaders: John delRe 369; Barbara Swetman 383; Nancy Chester 479; Guy Bankes 276; Eileen Metzger 168; David Yeager 448 (t? b?); Joni Seidenstein 142; Cynthia Swick and Gina Balestracci 131b; Adrian Mariano 198; Diane Mennella 542; Hal Kunkel 193; Laura Densmore 201; Thom Metzger 216; John Brode 122; Michael Kaye 163b (in memory of Don DiFranco who lost his life on the top floor of the World Trade Center).

Chairman Doron Henkin called for announcements of upcoming singings, and the regular portion of the Saturday session was closed at 3:30 p.m.

After a short recess, a singing featuring tunes not found in “The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition” was held. Many songs from the “Cooper Book” and a number of “new compositions” songs were sung. The singing adjourned for the day at 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, January 27

Adrian Mariano called the class to order leading song on page 148. The morning prayer was offered by Rev. Clayton Ames. Chairman Doron Henkin welcomed the class and made announcements.

Leaders: Thom Metzger 274t; Laura Densmore 49b; Hal Kunkel 133; Doron Henkin 113; Donna Abrahams 318; John Redman 454; Paula McGray 157; Barbara Swetman 127; Guy Bankes 556; David Yeager 515; Debbie Barford 472; Joni Seidenstein 144; Michael Kaye 68b; John delRe 129; Adrian Mariano 203; Molly Sayvetz 501; Eileen Metzger 217.

RECESS

John delRe called the class to order by leading song on page 39t.

Leaders: Ginny Landgraf 189; Nancy Yeager 448b; Gabriel Kastelle 70b; John delRe and Clayton Ames 268; Susan Munch 117; Hal Kunkel and Jessie Bennett 101t; Thom Metzger with some friends of David and Nancy Yeager from Georgia 155; Laura Densmore 83t; Hal Kunkel 392; Doron Henkin 573; John Redman 442; Paula McGray 183; Barbara Swetman 145t; Eileen Metzger 504; Guy Bankes 269; David Yeager 267.

RECESS

Debbie Barford called the class to order leading song on page 120. Leaders: Nancy Yeager 565; Joni Seidenstein 195; Michael Kaye 569 (t? b?); John delRe 207; Debbie Barford 547; Adrian Mariano 29t; Molly Sayvetz 159; Ginny Landgraf 344; Gabriel Kastelle 179; Gabriel Kastelle and Clayton Ames 186; Susan Munch 95; Laura Densmore 542; Hal Kunkel 36b; Doron Henkin 228; John Redman 236; Paula McGray 300; Barbara Swetman 260; Guy Bankes 444; David Yeager 47t; Nancy Yeager 313b; Joni Seidenstein 312b; Michael Kaye 147t; Debbie Barford 112; Adrian Mariano 430; Ginny Landgraf 485; Gabriel Kastelle 200.

Chairman Doron Henkin called for any additional announcements. Secretary Hal Kunkel acknowledged and thanked the following officers and volunteers: Chairman—Doron Henkin; Housing and Volunteer Coordinator—Gabriel Kastelle; Publicity—Molly Sayvetz and Doron Henkin; Treasurer—Guy Bankes; Assistant Secretary—Ginny Landgraf; Memorial Committee—Paula McGray and Gina Balestracci; Chaplains—Rev. Clayton Ames and Ginny Landgraf; Arranging Committee—Laura Densmore, Barbara Swetman, Diane Mennella, and John delRe; Set-up/Childcare—Laura Densmore and Ina Henkin; Registration—Gabriel Kastelle, Laura Densmore, Ted Stokes, Molly Sayvetz, Eileen Metzger, and John Redman; Food Preparation—Chris Densmore and Mary McCaffrey.

Doron Henkin led song on page 62 as the closing song. Rev. Clayton Ames dismissed the class with prayer.

Chairman—Doron Henkin; Secretary—Hal Kunkel.