Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 2025 Pioneer Valley All-Day Singing was held on Saturday before the first Sunday in July at the Deerfield Community Center in Deerfield, Massachusetts. Angela Ruggiero-Corliss called the class to order leading 171. Andrew Magee offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Joel Newberger 31t; Ben Sachs-Hamilton 52t; R. Anuhea Sebstad 67; Margaret Youngberg 326; Erin Fulton 88t; Kate Bergren 314; Rebecca Hawkins 127; Carole Crompton 106; Jana Yeaton 270; Micah John Walter 411; Liz Patton 361; Rowan Lupton 89; William Schuller 148; Janet Spongberg 142.

RECESS

Kit Walsh called the class back together by leading 131b. Leaders: Jennie Brown 460; Wendy Sibbison 187; Madeline Endres 39t; Penny Henzel and El Corcoran 83t; Rob Arbelo 528; Mike Richards 192; Daniel Harvester 369; Charles Biada 349; Becky Wright 30t; Guy Bankes and Anna Bowen 352; Mary Skidmore 440; Kerry Cullinan 368; Chris Geissler 441; Ateven Snderson 231; Barbara Swetman 365; Sue Peters and Jan Robinson 467; Christopher Kain 381.

RECESS

Anna Bowen and Guy Bankes called the class back together leading 182. Leaders: Brian Zayatz 276; Jeremy Galvagni 28t; Meaghan Kachadoorian 312t; Joan Frankel 38b; Andrew Magee 56b.

John Holbrook conducted a lesson for the following sick and shut-ins: Peter Amidon, Inez Benichasa, Joanne Cooke, Jim Ducey, Amy Frankel, Bob Frankel, Jason Freedlander, Lance Fulton, Melissa Howrey Fulton, Greta Holbrook, Judith Mason, Jasmine Mendoza, Hannah Parrot, Lynn Fulton Pfannenstiel, Elsa Phemayotin, Perrin Scott, Pat Waggoner, and Tom Waggoner. He led 503.

Yael Tarshish then conducted a memorial lesson in memory of the following deceased: Buell Cobb—Alabama; Louise Godfrey—California; Corrone Bryant, Ruth Anne Bryant, Bob Moskowitz—Florida; Grady Waid Denny Burgess, Beverly Rollins Thompson—Georgia; Sally Gethner Handler—Illinois; William Ralph Paris—Kentucky; Jim Baird—Maryland; Mrs. A.C. Anderson—Massachusetts; Grace Chappel, P. Adams Sitney—New Jersey; Cole Heinowitz, Norman MacAffee, Hollie Ruthberg—New York; Daniel Wert—Pennsylvania, Jabbara Edwards, Reed Schilbach—Washington; Eva Cukernan—Ontario; Kurt Orenstein—Switzerland; Jane O’Sullivan—United Kingdom. Yael led 29t. Tim Eriksen closed the lesson with a prayer.

Leaders: Kelly House 217; Rachel Field 274t; Christine Andrews 532; Amy Finlay 442; George Sigut 444; Landon Peer 107. Andrew Daube offered a prayer before the meal

LUNCH

Linda Shea called the class back together leading 475. Leaders: Matthew Wojcik 456; Deidra Montgomery 558; Marie Brandis 168; Matthew Leger-Small 328; Molly Ellis 196; Bill Holt 269; Sage Chase-Dempsey 300; Philou 542; Allison Steel 384; Gwen Gethner 406; MB Gowins 189; Tim Eriksen 277; Chris Noren 263; Crispin Youngberg 47b; Hannah Land 454; Tim Gregg 424; Laura Hodges 103; Sheldon Finlay 383; John Davis 335; Eric Beecher and Ray Friedlander 86; Joseph Dunn 268.

RECESS

Marie Brandis led 72b to bring the class back together. Leaders: Mary Andrews 82t; Elias Neuman-Donihue 155; Michael Ipsen 210; Susan Mampre 102; Glen Wright 48t; Michael Nord and Molly Merrett 283; Lizzy Dunn 448t; Kit Walsh 224; Grant Cook 410b; Jacob Deck 178; Corinne Ducey and Matthew Wojcik 501; Susanna Hoffman and Rebecca Hawkins 159; Jim Desmond 299; Isabel Linhares 500; John Holbrook 145b; Linda Shea 229.

The Secretary reported registration for the day of one hundred fifty-two singers from thirteen states, the District of Columbia, one Canadian province and one English county. Among those registered, eighty-six leaders led eighty-seven songs. The Resolutions Committee offered thanks to all who helped make the day possible, and resolved to meet again next year. After announcements, Angela Ruggiero-Corliss and Ben Sachs-Hamilton led 62 as the closing song, and Andrew Magee offered the closing prayer.

Chair—Angela Ruggiero-Corliss; Vice Chair—Joel Newberger; Secretary—Ben Sachs-Hamilton