Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, October 4

The 33rd session of the New England Sacred Harp Convention was called to order by Matt Wojcik leading 34b. Walt Colteryahn offered the opening prayer.

The following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Matt Wojcik; Vice Chairman—Paul Gauthier; Secretary—Laura Timmerman.

Leaders: Paul Gauthier 59; Laura Timmerman 52t; Bill Schults 178; Chris Noren 203; Ines Luttgen 100; Ed Smith 283; Rosie Wojcik 30t; Walt Colteryahn 155; Ben Sachs-Hamilton 217; Elizabeth Stoddard (no number listed); Jenny Wright 191; Ian Ludders 157; Bob Parr 297; Deidra Montgomery 146; Ken Mattson 474; Ishmael Stefanov-Wagner 47t; Jeremy Galvagni 39t; Susan Jaster 485; Ron Trial 276; Julian Damashek 270; Susan Mampre 106; Lyra O’Brien 216.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Kelsey Sunderland leading 89. Leaders: Terry Ryan 71; Miranda Elliott-Rader 410t; Kitty Kagay 163t; Jane Zanichkowsky 479; Robert Stoddard 564; Jennie Brown 192; Jean Seiler 168; John Holbrook 38t; Justin Levi 134; Anayis Wright 35; Neely Bruce 298; Scott Luscombe 353; Anne Kazlauskas 110; Paul Butler 319; Liz Cantrell 101t; Allison Schofield 83b; Lynne deBenedette 107; Lauren Bock 197; Dennis O’Brien 547; Brendan Taaffe 163b.

RECESS

The class was called together by Paul Gauthier leading 105. Leaders: Jesse Pearlman Karlsberg 432; Charles Cofone 64; Nancy Reid 147t; Peter Irvine 111t; Dana Borrelli 335; George Seiler 480; Joanna Lampert 95; Rick Johnston 310; Robb Barnard 50t; Leonard H. Spencer 250; Anne Johnston 294; Glen Wright 228. Jan Dreshler offered grace before the noon meal.

LUNCH

Laura Timmerman called the class to order leading 176b. Leaders: Laura Borrelli 142; Bill Holt 352; Lea Kouba 76b; Kelsey Sunderland 196; Aldo Ceresa 532; Tim Eriksen 383; Chris Noren 236; Jennie Brown 292; Lauren Bock and Alice Maggio 209; Stephen Marini 245; Elizabeth Stoddard 411; Allison Schofield 542; Miranda Elliot-Rader 143; Neely Bruce 553; Bobbie Goodell 430; Peter Irvine 419; George Seiler and Jean Seiler 299; Lynne deBenedette 162; Justin Levi and Joanna Lampert 455; Dana Borelli 300; Scott Luscombe 481; Terry Ryan 344.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Jesse Pearlman Karlsberg leading 324. Leaders: Liz Cantrell 37b; Deidra Montgomery 384; Robert Stoddard 183; Robb Barnard 38b; Charles Cofone 569b; Dan Hertzler 550; Julian Damashek 347; Laura Borelli 277; Ron Trial 47b; Ben Sachs-Hamilton 254; Leonard H. Spencer 260; Bill Holt 556; Ken Mattson 454; Tim Eriksen 499; Lea Kouba 31t; Walt Colteryahn 82t; Aldo Ceresa 118; Paul Butler 490; Bill Schults 40; Ines Luttgen 396; Anayis Wright 189.

The day was concluded with a prayer offered by Jesse Pearlman Karlsberg.

Sunday, October 5

Matt Wojcik called the Sunday session of the New England Convention to order leading 171. Effie Cummings offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Matt Wojcik 200; Paul Gauthier 228; Laura Timmerman 535; Debby Moody 76b; Deirdre Counter 106; Sheila Kelley 383; Ian Smiley 285t; Bobbie Goodell 540; Effie Cummings 344; Ishmael Stefanov-Wagner 148; Jeremy Galvagni 101t; Ed Smith 362; Joanne Fuller 131b; Bob Parr 440; Linda Shea 371; Dennis O’Brien 304; Paula Picton 306; Peter Golden 385b; Anne Kazlauskas 67.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Chris Noren leading 40. Leaders: Jennie Brown 492; David Boyle 49b; Jim Picton 384; Kelsey Sunderland 36b; Lea Kouba 452; Kitty Kagay 365; Glen Wright 63; Chris Holley and Kathe Pilibosian 77b; Jenny Wright 504; Susan Mampre 372; Corrone Bryant 73b; Rosie Wojcik 377; Ian Ludders 126; Susan Jaster 347; Anayis Wright 284; Nellie Farrington 455; John Ostwald 269; Rick Johnston 283.

RECESS

Paul Gauthier called the class to order leading 142. Leaders: Jean Seiler 492; Scott Luscombe 472; James Baumgartner 183; Lauren Bock 165; Andrew Lebrun 505; Paul Butler 432; Aldo Ceresa 411; Justin Levi 349; Deidra Montgomery 448t.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Jesse Pearlman Karlsberg who noted that when we remember those who have gone before we bring them back into the square and thence have the bittersweet pleasure of singing in their presence while experiencing their absence. He led 55 in memory of Amanda Denson Brady, Milton Oliver, Edith Tate—Alabama; Jean Olson—California; Florencia Fitzsimons—Canada; Frank Stefanov—Connecticut; Henriette Galvagni, Victor Galvagni, Judith Morgan—Florida; Homer Benefield, Loy Garrison, Lee Rogers—Georgia; Arthur Dobias, Rita Higgins, Nancy Koughlan, Jim McDonald, Cristine Micklitsch, Ruth Mills, Father Oshagan Minassian, Bonnie Rogers, William Sansadone, Paul Thetrault, Jackie Walker—Massachusetts; Pauline Childers—Michigan; Laura Knowles, Patrick Stevens, Marianne Taylor—New Hampshire; John Copeland—New Jersey; Judith Anderson, George Tomov—New York; Stefni Agin—Pennsylvania; Fannie Altea—Philippines; Dick Johnston—Puerto Rico; Velma Moody—South Carolina; Ian Ferguson—United Kingdom; Lewis Hill, Mel Long, Jeff Stansburg—Vermont.

Susan Jaster led 315 for the following sick and homebound and their caretakers: Lily Brown, Liz Celebucki, Heidi Gold, Laura Goulliart, Ann Halliday, Beverly Jessup, Karen Keller, Virginia Luscombe, Edwin Macadam, Sheila Girling Macadam, Jean Mattson, Elise Perico, John Pratt, Paul Setford, Maureen Shea, and John Wood. George Seiler closed the memorial lesson with prayer. Jean Seiler offered grace before the noon meal.

LUNCH

Matt Wojcik called the afternoon session to order leading 37b. Leaders: Joanna Lampert 434; Tom Ostwald 268; John Holbrook 549; Tim Eriksen 41; George Seiler 99; Joanne Fuller 39b; Linda Shea 348b; Jesse Pearlman Karlsberg 182; Dan Hertzler 192; Lyra O’Brien 94; Anne Kazlauskas 218; Chris Holley 480; Kelsey Sunderland 328; Bob Parr 528; Dennis O’Brien 240; Ian Smiley 214; Paul Gauthier 70t; Paula Picton 210; Anne Johnston 29b; Ian Ludders 91; Bobbie Goodell 112; Ed Smith 442; Effie Cummings 203; Debby Moody 547; Jeremy Galvagni 29t.

RECESS

Lynne deBenedette called the class to order leading 81t. Leaders: Kitty Kagay 512; David Boyle 178; Ishmael Stefanov-Wagner 373; Corrone Bryant 569b; James Baumgartner 38b; Andrew Lebrun 567; Nancy Reid 191; Jim Picton 163b; Deirdre Counter 454; Terry Ryan 475; Eliza Cavanaugh and Hugo Gualberto 198; Victoria Ostwald, Tom Ostwald, John Ostwald, and Nellie Farrington 209; Jean Seiler and George Seiler 287; Lauren Bock and Jesse Pearlman Karlsberg 543; Chris Holley and Peter Golden 210; Tim Eriksen and Deidra Montgomery 217.

Matt Wojcik led 282 and opened the business meeting. The Treasurer reported that we met our expenses. The Secretary reported that 170 people registered, there were 80 leaders and 197 songs led over 2 days. The Resolutions committee gave thanks to all who made the convention possible. Next year’s New England Convention will be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 3-4, 2009 in Massachusetts. The business meeting was closed.

The officers led 62 and we took the parting hand. Aldo Ceresa offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Matt Wojcik; Vice Chairman—Paul Gauthier; Secretary—Laura Timmerman