Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, August 14

The 5th annual Berlin Singing weekend was held in the Andreashaus, the parish hall of St. Markus Church in Berlin, Germany. Saturday song selections were from the Shenandoah Harmony (ShH). Petra Ertl called the class to order by leading 78 (ShH). Caro Stamm-Reusch spoke the opening prayer.

Leaders: Caro Stamm-Reusch 1b (ShH); Ellen Kennedy 2 (ShH); Laura Eisen 22b (ShH); Jessica Sligter 20 (ShH); Melanie Tönnies 63 (ShH); Christopher Schuller 28t (ShH); Tobias Saalmann 413 (ShH); Saara Pakarinen 112 (ShH); William Schuller 53 (ShH); Gerben Vos 41 (ShH); Derek Buckland 54 (ShH); Elisabeth Schwallwig 243 (ShH); Inga Huebner 7b (ShH); Petra Ertl 80 (ShH).

RECESS

Melanie Tönnies called the class back together by leading 203 (ShH). Leaders: Paul Kolenbrander and Caro Stamm-Reusch 402 (ShH); Laura Eisen 374b (ShH); Saara Pakarinen 456 (ShH); Tina Cramer 260t (ShH); Jessica Sligter 414t (ShH) (for Cherilyn Neilson and Graham DeZarn); Melanie Tönnies 326t (ShH); Caro Stamm-Reusch 322 (ShH).

Inga Huebner spoke on behalf of the sick and house-bound and the deceased. She led 309 (ShH) in their honor.

Leaders: Christopher Schuller 24b (ShH) (for Marco Wessnigk); Tobias Saalmann 198 (ShH); Derek Buckland 37 (ShH); Ellen Kennedy 137 (ShH); Elisabeth Schallwig 121 (ShH); Gerben Vos 125 (ShH); William Schuller 206b (ShH). David Marnuse offered a blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

The class was called together by Laura Eisen leading 265 (ShH). Leaders: Caro Stamm-Reusch 287 (ShH); Tina Cramer 287 (ShH); Jessica Sligter 248b (ShH); Saara Pakarinen 364b (ShH); Gerben Vos 296 (ShH); Nathan Bowler 118 (ShH); William Schuller 79 (ShH); Tobias Saalmann 106 (ShH); Petra Ertl 254 (ShH); Jessica Sligter 229 (ShH); Laura Eisen 108 (ShH); Elisabeth Schallwig 334 (ShH); Ellen Kennedy 226 (ShH); Christopher Schuller 294 (ShH).

RECESS

Christopher Schuller called the class back together by leading 15 (ShH); Leaders: Melanie Tönnies 227 (ShH); Nathan Bowler 264b (ShH); Jessica Sligter 4t (ShH); Saara Pakarinen 130 (ShH); Tina Cramer 12b (ShH); Elisabeth Schallwig 319 (ShH); Tobias Saalmann 140b (ShH); William Schuller, Michael Schuller, and Christopher Schuller 285 (ShH); Gerben Vos 246b (ShH); Laura Eisen 93 (ShH); Ellen Kennedy 114 (ShH); Caro Stamm-Reusch 404t (ShH) (for Cherilyn Neilson and Graham DeZarn).

Announcements were made, and committee reports were read. Jessica Sligter reported that all expenses were met. Melanie Tönnies gave the secretary’s report that there were twenty-five singers in total, and nineteen led sixty songs. We welcomed guests from the Netherlands, Norway, and the United States as well as from five other German federal states.

Petra Ertl led 381 (ShH) as the closing song. Christopher Schuller spoke the closing prayer, and thanks were given. The class was dismissed.

Sunday, August 15

The 5th annual Berlin Singing weekend continued on Sunday. We sang songs from the Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition on Sunday. Petra Ertl called the class to order by leading 276. Leaders: Melanie Tönnies 277; Laura Eisen 472; David Marnuse 110; Ellen Kennedy 138t; Caro Stamm-Reusch 101t; Christopher Schuller 417; Saara Pakarinen 176b; Jessica Sligter 206; Paul Kolenbrander 201; William Schuller 76b; Gerben Vos 183; Elisabeth Schallwig 77t; Nathan Bowler 504; Tina Cramer 31t.

RECESS

David Marnuse called the class back together by leading 117. Leaders: Saara Pakarinen 187; Melanie Tönnies 372; Tina Cramer 344; Petra Ertl 300; Gerben Vos 114; Ellen Kennedy 475; Elisabeth Schallwig 228; Laura Eisen 306; Jessica Sligter 383; Paul Kolenbrander 203; Nathan Bowler 457; Christopher Schuller 89; Caro Stamm-Reusch 528; William Schuller 564.

RECESS

The class was called to order by Caro Stamm Reusch leading 312b. Leaders: Gerben Vos 40; Saara Pakarinen and Ulla Schlobohm 163b; Tina Cramer 163t; Nathan Bowler 448t; Saara Pakarinen 39t; Paul Kolenbrander 455; William Schuller 58; Elisabeth Schallwig 131t; David Marnuse 84; Christopher Schuller 272; Laura Eisen 278b; Melanie Tönnies 224; Ellen Kennedy 142; Jessica Sligter 456. Announcements were made and Melanie Tönnies gave the secretary’s report that forty-six songs were led by sixteen singers. Thanks were given to all the singers who joined us during these difficult times. It was announced that the annual German Sacred Harp convention will be held in Berlin in 2022. Petra Ertl led 62 as the closing song, and the class was dismissed.

Chairwoman—Petra Ertl; Treasurer—Jessica Sligter; Secretary—Melanie Tönnies