Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The annual Berkshire Foothills All-Day Singing was held on Saturday before the second Sunday in November at the Town Hall in Ashfield, Massachusetts. Anuhea Sebstad called the class to order by leading 171. Matthew Leger Small offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Linnea McChesney 59; Madeline Endres 270; Kate Bergren 228; John Holbrook 115; Rebecca Hawkins 45t; Margaret Youngberg 54; Will Harron 334; Lorelei Oslund 82t; Linda Shea 318; Jeremy Galvagni 40; Joel Newberger 37b. Tim Eriksen led a Historian’s Lesson, discussing the history of Sacred Harp in the Ashfield area.

RECESS

Matthew Leger Small called the class back together by leading 111b. Leaders: Holly Laws 564; Sally Langendorf and Victoria Brown 105; Rick Johnston 501t; Bill Holt 255; Crispin Youngberg 116; Mary Skidmore 487; Michaela Natal 219; Wendy Sibbison 425; John Davis 276; Tarik Wareh 254; Mike Richards, Laura Hodges, and Hazel Hodges 250; Richard Schmeidler 474; Marlena Ospina 514; Joan Frankel 284; Jean Seiler and Joanne Fuller 229.

RECESS

Kit Walsh called the class back together by leading 55. Leaders: Micah John Walter 419; Joan Nagy 531; Myles Louis Dakan 231; Kerry Cullinan 118; Michael Ipsen 357; George Sigut 178t; Sid Quinsaat 70b.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Joel Newberger and Christine Andrews. Joel Newberger read the names of sick and shut-ins including Rio Seiler, Isabel Linhares, Alec Collins, Harriet Coppock-Hart, Dan Coppock-Hart, Francis Coppock-Hart, Margot Coppock-Hart, Greta Holbrook, Elizabeth Hodges, Tom Waggenes, Brenda Waters, G.C. Waldrep, David Booher, Pastor Brad Crump, Roxanne Gallerie, Jeanene Sebstad, Amy Frankel, Bob Frankel, John Stetson, and Bea Kee. He then led 34t.

Christine Andrews read the names of the deceased, and then led 367 in their memory. The list of the deceased included Susie McIntosh, Caroline Jennings, Mary Shattuck, Andrew Van Pragh—Massachusetts; Alice Bejnar—Florida; Cecily Pilzer, Joanne Cooke—Maryland; Buell Cobb—Alabama; Sally Gethner Handler—Illinois; Dan Phemayotin—New Jersey; Grady Wade Denney Burgess, James “Jimmy” Abington—Georgia; Corrone Bryant—Maine and Florida; Phil Perrin—North Carolina; Mike Hinton—Texas; Peter Amidon—Vermont; Sarah Jane Elliot—Maine; Barrie Jane Kintner—Pennsylvania; Cate Skidmore—New York; and Donna Moke—Hawaii. Matthew Leger Small closed the memorial lesson with a prayer.

Leaders: Angela Ruggiero-Corliss 114; Owen Stoddard 187. Matthew Leger Small led a prayer before the meal.

LUNCH

Anuhea Sebstad called the class back together by leading 81t. Leaders: Peter Irvine and Kate Bergren 193; Barbara Swetman 211; Sam Kleinman 189; Sage Chase-Dempsey 442; Robert Stoddard 430; Guy Bankes 444; Emma Rose Brown 558; Rachel Hall 356; Tim Gregg 223; Jasmine Mendoza 169; Elizabeth Stoddard 395; Sara Sandberg 475; Chris Cotter 314; Pattie Wareh 472; Jon Adler 322; Diedra Montgomery 263; Elsa Phemayotin 83b; Jaime Piedra 507; Eric Sandberg 244; Tim Eriksen 435; Daniel Zaloum 436; Juliet McFadden 29t; Sam Dembling 426t.

RECESS

MB Gowins called the class back together by leading 176t. Leaders: Susannah Hoffman and Becca Hawkins 159; Harry Bernholz 508; Larry Bingham 131t; Gwen Gethner 561; Sebastian Beaghen 271b; Amy Findlay 168; Erin Fulton 569t (in memory of Grady Wade Denney); Neve Jahn 299; Eleanor Womack 352; Sue Peters and Jan Robinson 97; Marie Brandis 516; Christopher Kain 467; Jamie Dye and Peter Irvine 387; Chris Geissler 130; Tim Wheeler 335; Charles Biada 300; Brian Zayatz 56b; Michael Nord 142; Becky Wright 161; Laura Clampitt 501b; Jennie Brown and Leonie Browins 460.

A business meeting was held to hear reports from various committees. The treasurer, Wendy Sibbison, reported that all expenses were met. Marie Brandis of the resolutions committee resolved that we will meet again on the Saturday before the second Sunday in November. The secretary reported that the class sang eighty-six songs, led by ninety-one leaders. The class was of size one hundred thirty-seven, with members representing ten states.

Anuhea Sebstad, Linnea McChesney, Madeline Endres, and Wendy Sibbison led 146 as the class shook the parting hand. Matthew Leger Small offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chair—Anuhea Sebstad; Vice Chair—Linnea McChesney; Secretary—Madeline Endres