Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

A two book all-day singing dedicated to Graham Dezarn and Ted Mercer was held in Arlington, Virginia, on Saturday before the second Sunday in October. The class was called to order by Brenda Dunlap leading 266. Jonathan Een Newton offered the opening prayer: “We gather here today in joy and in sorrow, to celebrate the lives of two dear friends and fellow singers. They were separated by a generation but united by this tradition—a tradition that has a way of breaking down many seemingly arbitrary boundaries. We ask that our voices are strengthened and lifted through our memories of them—perhaps sitting next to us or across the square. Give us grace to mourn their loss, honor their memory, and be present in the joyous, healing splendor of our music. Amen”

Leaders: John delRe 123b; Jonathan Een Newton 122; Yosef Trachtenberg 47b; Robin Banerji 101t; Jim Strube 209; Richard Green 163t; David Shulman 277; Mary Helen Dupree 30t; Alexa Silverman 146; Molly Hickman 32b; Miriam Delirium 176b; Kathy Manning 284; Maria Cramer 126; Mary Ann Daly 353; Bridget Jamison 42; Leyland delRe 208.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Corinne Ducey and Yosef Trachtenberg leading 264b (ShH). Corinne Ducey keyed. Leaders: Megan Holm 129t (ShH); Nina Burris 287 (ShH); Emily Ross 218t (ShH); Joni Seidenstein 285 (ShH); Ulrike Brauneis 129b (ShH); Barbara Barry 66 (ShH); Julia Seidenstein 78 (ShH); Adrian Mariano 423 (ShH); Emily Liss 246b (ShH); Cherilyn Neilson 21 (ShH); Kelly Macklin 336 (ShH); Sophie Sokolov 265t (ShH); Topher Lawton 422 (ShH); Brenda Dunlap 384 (ShH); Susan Green 226 (ShH); Tim Slattery 1t (ShH).

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Mary Helen Dupree leading 15 (ShH). The memorial session was moderated by Mary Helen Dupree. Mary Helen Dupree and John delRe led 35 (ShH). They, along with Kelly Macklin and Cherilyn Neilson shared spoken memories of Graham Dezarn and Ted Mercer. Cherilyn reminded the class that the most important things are relationships and living life to its fullest, i.e., “sucking the marrow out of life.”

Susan Green conducted the memorial lesson using the metaphor of the interconnectedness of trees in a forest and recovery from the loss of tallest oak trees. Susan Green led 34t for the following sick and shut-ins: Ethel Strube, Mac Campbell, and Charlotte Campbell. She led 464 to remember the following deceased: Ted Mercer, Graham Dezarn, Sue Graham Mingus, Ralph Kemp, Carolee Pastorius, Mark Guttag, Shellie Barker. Jonathan Een Newton offered the noon blessing.

LUNCH

The class was called back to order by Megan Holm leading 82t. Abby Beavin keyed. Leaders: Jonathan Een Newton and Corinne Ducey 511; John delRe 263; Jim Strube 144; Richard Green and Susan Green 350; Yosef Trachtenberg 198; Robin Banerji 536; Jacob Hamidi 225b; Chloë Somers 133; Alexa Silverman 504; Bridget Jamison 271t; Rachel Hall 440.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Rachel Hall leading 147 (ShH). John delRe keyed. Leaders: Thomas Ward 450 (ShH); Cherilyn Neilson 268 (ShH); Maria Cramer 87 (ShH); Chloë Somers 60b (ShH); Kathy Manning 364b (ShH); Abby Beavin 444t (ShH); Mary Ann Daly 428 (ShH); Miriam Delirium 414b (ShH); Jacob Hamidi 322 (ShH); David Shulman 254 (ShH); Emily Ross 200 (ShH); Julia Seidenstein 404t (ShH); Joni Seidenstein 120t (ShH); Ulrike Brauneis 195 (ShH); Barbara Barry 312 (ShH); Sophie Sokolov 114 (ShH); Leyland delRe 191 (ShH); David Giusti 417 (ShH); Topher Lawton 202 (ShH). Brenda Dunlap, Kelly Macklin, and Mary Helen Dupree led 276t (ShH) as the closing song. Jonathan Een Newton offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Brenda Dunlap; Vice Chairpersons—Mary Helen Dupree, Kelly Macklin, John delRe; Chaplain—Jonathan Een Newton; Secretaries—Alexa Silverman, Maria Cramer, Ulrike Brauneis, Bridget Jamison