Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, October 4

The inaugural session of the New Mexico Sacred Harp Convention was held at the Montezuma Lodge of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on the second Sunday and Saturday before in October. The class was called to order at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday by Leslie Alperin, former chair of the Rocky Mountain Convention-New Mexico Session, leading 350. Claire Singleton offered the opening prayer.

A business meeting was held and the following officers were elected to serve: Chair—Irene Gilb; Vice Chair—Peggy Morrison; Treasurer—Vic Wiener; Secretary—Porter Lontz-Underhill; Arranger—Harlan Van Camp; Chaplain—Claire Singleton. Newly elected Chair Irene Gilb discussed the recently released The Sacred Harp: 2025 Edition and thanked revision committee member David Wright for leading a new-song singing school the previous evening at Open Circle Church in Santa Fe. The business session was then closed.

Leaders: Irene Gilb 539; Porter Lontz-Underhill 77t; Vic Wiener 183; Claire Singleton 39t; Marj Mullany 171; David McPherson 300; Peggy Morrison 448t; Kaia Wing 142; Mitchell Gustin 413; Kit French 268; Donna Sewell 63; Liz Bryant 55; Nancy Nortz 163b; John Sandstrom 146; Eric Metzler 505.

RECESS

Anton Popov called the class back to order leading 59. Leaders: Janet Morgan 480; Stephanie Fida 570; Tamara Wallace 70b; Jordan Langehennig 373; Julia Zaffarano 215; Teresa Davis 484t; Leslie Alperin 472; Will Sims 313t; Elise Englert 203; Leah Coffin 130; David Schmitt 516; Janet Plattner 147b; Elizabeth Poss 101t; Lizzy Van Blerkom 320; Riley Mullany 159.

RECESS

David Olson called the class back to order leading 141. Leaders: Sam Thomas 49b; Thom Fahrbach 562; Maddy Mullany 111t. Jeff Kellem led 381 and was then joined by the Sparkle Committee and presented with a bespoke tote bag decorated with shape notes in the Collins typeface that he designed for the new edition of The Sacred Harp.

Leaders: Gail Doss 547; Meg Quinlisk 344; Erika Roush 228; Mike Rasmussen 334; Mia Alvarado 512; Julie Swarstad Johnson 474; Joel Igli 371. Claire Singleton offered a blessing before the noontime meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was called to order by Porter Lontz-Underhill leading 170. Leaders: Leigh Cooper 409; Abbie Sorg 223; Jeff McLeod 441 (for imprisoned SH singer Logan Hollarsmith); Paul Landskroener 357; Anders Fahey 31t. Treasurer Vic Wiener was called to speak: “While Mercy’s Free, putting on a convention is not. Unfortunately, we do not live on Silver Street or own Golden Gardens. So I am here raising money The Good Old Way. There are helpers who will be passing around donation boxes... While we can Struggle On, your Loving-Kindness and generosity make our Present Joys possible and secure the Sweet Prospect of me not asking for money again tomorrow. All Is Well if we can pay our bills. So it’s with a Thankful Heart that I say, Let Us Sing 393”. Leaders: Judy Van Duzer 182; David Olson 288; Levi Newell with Anton Popov 487; Jan Rogalski 276; Hannah Thompson 504; Erika Mason 68b; Ellen Ray 461; Mike Chaffin 571; Paul Chamberlain 195; Phillip Langley 542; Brian McKee 84; Emily Gammel and Julie Swarstad Johnson 478; Sam Ellenberger 27b.

RECESS

The last session of the day was called to order by Marj Mullany leading 40. Leaders: David Wright 395; Fred Wilkey 501b; Anita Landess 137; Jean Merritt and Erica Roush 168; Dorothy Mitchell 515; AnnaLinden Weller 47b; Anne Pearman and Irene Gilb 524; Ryan Kulas and Porter Lontz-Underhill 34b; Kristine Ramirez and Mitchell Gustin 235; Paul Lilley 139; David McPherson 282; Eric Metzler 179; Kaia Wing 330b; Jeff McLeod 124; Elizabeth Poss 51; Riley Mullany 290; Julie Swarstad Johnson 207.

Irene Gilb brought the singing to a close for the day leading 479. Claire Singleton offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, October 5

The Sunday session of the New Mexico Sacred Harp Convention was called to order by Irene Gilb leading 178b. Claire Singleton offered a prayer. Leaders: Vic Wiener 161; Marj Mullany 549; Peggy Morrison 148; Teresa Davis 49b; Donna Sewell 171; Nancy Nortz 117; Jan Rogalski 133; Will Sims 38b; Eric Metzler 231; Janet Morgan 76b; Vincent Accardi 299; Norah Harris and Vincent Accardi with Mitchell Gustin 299; Tamara Wallace 128.

RECESS

Mitchell Gustin called the class back to order leading 309. Leaders: Daniel Tyler and Mitchell Gustin 27b; Jodie Streit 168; Irene Gilb 236; Claire Singleton 484b; David Schmitt 378t; John Sandstrom 268; Mia Alvarado 352; Leslie Alperin 198; Liz Bryant 41; Julia Zaffarano 385b; Elise Englert 455; Leah Coffin 258; Janet Plattner 119; David Olson 100.

RECESS

Kaia Wing brought the class back to order leading 56b. Leaders: Lizzy Van Blerkom 447; Porter Lontz-Underhill 288 (in memory of Peter Amidon who passed away the previous afternoon); Sam Thomas 483; Stephanie Fida 544; Mike Rasmussen 254; Abbie Sorg 217.

The memorial lesson was led by Kim Martinez and Mitchell Gustin. Kim spoke of illness and separation, reading from Psalm 20, and led 86 in honor of the following sick and shut-ins: Lynne Hoyt, Steve Hoyt, Mike Rodger, Lori Hand Rodgers, Eric Morgan, Jim Morgan, Judy Licht, Roxanne Seagraves, Logan Hollarsmith, Michael McKernan, Connor Flanagan, Peter Stenshoel, Ginnie Ely, Don Bowen, Ted Johnson, Emily Casey, Joan Fairey, Michelle Bressler, Kate Fine, Alana Kambury, Peter Abrahamson, Greg Newby, AJ Rodrigues, and Liane Brown.

Mitchell spoke on the loss of friends and family and led 484t in memory of the following deceased: Daniel Davis, Phil Garry, Damon Giovanielli, Sally Gwylan, Phoenix McKay Phippen, Norma Ruptier, Anita Sanders, and Ed Stevens—New Mexico; Buell Cobb, Corbin Rodgers, and Brian Thompson—Alabama; Mike Garrett—Arizona; John Van Duzer—Colorado; Michael Musick—Georgia; Sean Pearman and Suzanne Pearman—Michigan; Jeff Bell—Minnesota; Joanne Tarpley Crotts—North Carolina; Core Pearson—Oregon; Mike Hinton—Texas; Bernard Collard—United Kingdom; Peter Amidon—Vermont; Hank Schutz—Virginia; Jabbara Edwards and Cora Winterberg—Washington; Johanna Fabke—Wisconsin.

Leaders: Kaia Wing 115; Thom Fahrbach 367; Paul Landskroener 545. Claire Singleton offered the mealtime prayer.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was called to order by Erika Roush leading 145t. Leaders: Elizabeth Poss 500; Sam Ellenberger 360; Joel Igli 178t; Catherine Massey 159; David Wright 340; Vic Wiener 499t; Julie Swarstad Johnson 112; Fred Wilkey 99; Ellen Ray 433; Phillip Langley 564; Maddy Mullany 426t; Judy Van Duzer 48t; Mike Chaffin 174; Leigh Cooper 574; Erika Roush 192; Anders Fahey 339; Gail Doss 265.

RECESS

David Schmitt brought the final session of the convention to order by leading 457. Leaders: Erika Mason 569b; Ryan Kulas and Porter Lontz-Underhill 155; Laura Thomas 284; Jeff Kellem and Kaia Wing 504; Dorothy Mitchell 384; Paul Lilley 39t; Cathy Van Blerkom 267; Brian McKee 539; Hannah Thompson 270; Jeff McLeod 104; Paul Chamberlain 488; Anita Landess 379; Anton Popov 354b; Elise Englert and Irene Gilb 277; Riley Mullany, Maddy Mullaney, and Marj Mullany 503. David McPherson concluded the session by leading 146 in memory of Mike Hinton.

A business meeting was called by the Chair to hear reports from the committees. Treasurer Vic Wiener gratefully announced that donations to the convention met and exceeded all convention expenses. Secretary Porter Lontz-Underhill announced the class sang one hundred fifty-nine songs over the weekend, including one hundred forty-seven unique songs and forty-two songs newly added to the 2025 revision, with seventy-eight different leaders and exactly one hundred fifty registered attendees from sixteen states (New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Vermont) plus the countries of Germany and Australia.

The Resolutions Committee was called—Stephanie Fida of Boulder, Janet Plattner of Tucson, and David McPherson of Corrales. David enthusiastically announced that the class would meet again this time next year, the first Sunday and Saturday before in October, 2026. The committee then recognized and thanked the Montezuma Lodge, the Tewa people, the convention officers and committee members, and all those who led, fed, and helped make the convention a resounding success. The class adopted all resolutions. The business meeting was closed. Announcements were made.

Irene Gilb led 347t as those who wished took the parting hand. Chaplain Claire Singleton offered the closing prayer, dismissing the class with wishes for safe returns home and hopes to sing together soon.

Chair—Irene Gilb; Secretary—Porter Lontz-Underhill