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Region 15 Shares Its Condolences
The Regional Management Team expresses its sincere condolences to long-time Region 15 member, coach and arranger Sonia “Sonny” Steffan over the recent passing of her husband, Robert.
Born in Elizabeth, N.J., in 1936, Bob Steffan, 71, was a long-time service technician for the Maytag Co. in Little Falls. He served in the National Guard and was also a member of the American Legion. In his spare time, he was an avid softball pitcher.
Bob and Sonny shared a 46-year marriage. He is survived by Sonny; his children Mark and Hope; his grandchildren Robert and Christopher; and his brother Michael and sister Marie.
Region 15 expresses its deepest sympathy to Sonny and the entire Steffan family.
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A record of the Nov. 3, 2007, RMT teleconference is now available here on the Web site.
 CLICK HERE to download the minutes document.
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Topping their finish in Detroit two years ago, Greater Nassau Chorus earned 7th place medals at the International Convention in Calgary, Alberta.
With 71 women on stage, Greater Nassau was the smallest chorus in the Top 10, but they made a big impression and I was proud to be in their small but loud cheering section in Calgary.
Here’s SING Internet reporter Marti Lovejoy’s comment about their ballad in the first set (“Once Upon A Time,” which was the contest’s most popular song): “Even though I have sat beneath that willow tree a lot this week, they are selling me on doing it again. The singers are really into the story, and that makes it easy to listen. Screaming overtone on the tag. This chorus sings CLEAN.”
Greater Nassau scored 2603 out of a possible 3280 points between the two contest rounds. Their finals package (“Harriette’s Diner”) was a pleasure to watch, even if I am biased. What’s more, the chorus jumped from 10th place (where they were at the end of the semi-finals) up into 7th place. Way to go, gals!
Our Region 15 quartet representative, Escape, also did us proud in the quartet semi-finals, where many of the contestants were separated by a matter of one or two points.
I encourage you to reach out and tell both Escape and Greater Nassau how proud we are of them!
-- Heather Collins, Communications Coordinator
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The award-winning Island Hills Chorus, Region 15's current Third Place Chorus Medalist, is seeking a new musical director to lead them in the art of barbershop four-part harmony singing.
Island Hills describes itself as a spirited, energetic and motivated group of singers looking to grow in barbershop harmony experience. The chapter is knowledgeable of the barbershop style and has the support of a talented music team, visual performance team and a strong management team.
Weekly rehearsals are held in a local Dix Hills, Long Island facility, which include vocal warm-ups, a commitment to vocal technique, and eagerness to learn new music.
The membership is looking for an enthusiastic, dynamic, positive director with the ability to help the chorus grow musically. The chorus encourages anyone with choral directing experience and excellent organizational and communications skills to apply.
Forward a letter of interest with your resume to:
Island Hills Chorus Director Search Committee
c/o Edyth Duff
34 E. Walnut Street
Islip, New York 11751
E-mail to: eaduff@optonline.net
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A record of the Sept. 10, 2007, RMT teleconference is now available here on the Web site.
CLICK HERE to download the minutes document.
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Region 15 Sisters,
We are sad to report the passing of Ann Minihane. Not only was Ann a well-known certified music arranger and a fixture in the Ramapo Valley Chorus front row as long-time choreographer and associate director, she was a certified music judge, an International faculty member, a regional education leader and the lead for 10 years of the New Dimension quartet, Region 15 champions and international semi-finalists. Ann also had an enormous impact on Hickory Tree Chorus, directing them to regional gold medals in 1986 and 1988 and taking them to international competition in 1985, 1987 and 1989. A full obituary will be posted soon on the Region 15 Web site.
CLICK HERE to download text of the eulogy delivered by Ann's friend, Rae Phillips Wade.
Donations in Ann's name should be send to:
American Heart Association
1 Union St.
Suite 301
Robbinsville, NJ 08691
Celebrating the music she gave us,
Heather Collins
Region 15 Communications Coordinator
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The RMT is going on the road again to visit each Region 15 chorus in 2007. See attached for the Road Show schedule.
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The winners of the 2007 Region 15 COMACT award is Song of the Valley Chorus
The RMT wants to congratulate our top three winners for 2006-2007 who did an enormously good job in promoting our art form in their respective communities:First place: Song of the Valley chorus, Second place: Evergreen Chorus and Third place: Long Island Sound Chorus.
The Community Activity award is given to the choruses that collect the most points throughout the year, doing PR, performing for and around the community and spreading the word about our organization and themselves. The big key is to get Sweet Adelines International included every time the chorus name is mentioned -- sort of like making sure your last name is mentioned too! Getting the name in newspapers, on radio programs, becoming known in the community by performing our songs and helping with activities, singing at ballgames and getting the name announced on loudspeakers and written in programs in addition to putting on annual shows all gives points to the participating choruses.
We had five entries this year and hope for many more next year. The qualification period now runs from May 1st, 2007 through April 30th, 2008 and the winners will be announced at TRAX 2008. All chapter TCs/ Presidents, Membership and PR Chairs have received the new forms and instructions, and I hope to see you all go out and help spread the word about our organization. Harmonizing the World, not the walls, is one of our best membership recruiting tools, in addition to having a happy, healthy chorus with well-planned rehearsals.
Please direct your comments to:
Lisbet P. Kline
Region 15 Membership Coordinator
lisbet@ptd.net
CLICK HERE for the ComAct application.
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Chapters are invited, and encouraged, to highlight, a member of their chorus in each issue of Taglines. We always strive to recognize our membership and acknowledge that we value their continued participation in our organization. Let's share in this salute that so many of us do within our chapter confines throughout the region. Please keep the length to a maximum of 200 words.
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CLICK HERE to download document.
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It seems that International is always delayed in getting quartet contact information to our region and some of our new quartets are not getting all of the information that we send out because they are not on the contact list. So, when you register as a new quartet, while sending your paper work to International, make a copy and send it to Carole Argulewicz as well, so we can begin sending all of the regional information to you ASAP.
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The region will pay you to be coached from a special fund we have established. (There is no catch. The payment is not dependent upon whether or not you use regional personnel or use the Coaching Coordinator.)
Details:
- Make arrangements with a coach to come and work with your quartet or chorus
- After the session, pay the coach their full fee and expenses
- Send your cost along with the coach's signature and receipts (see below for forms)
For Choruses send to:
Carole Argulewicz, Director Coordinator
17 Penstock Lane
Lake Katrine; NY 12449
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You will be reimbursed for 1/2 the amount of the session up to $100.00
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For each fiscal year, choruses have a maximum of $300
CLICK HERE to Download Chorus Coaching Reimbursement form (Excel)
For Quartets send to:
Carol Argulewicz
17 Penstock Lane
Lake Katrine, NY 12449
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You will be reimbursed for 1/2 the amount of the session up to $50.00 maximum for each session.
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For each fiscal year, quartets have a maximum of $125
CLICK HERE to Download Quartet Coaching Reimbursement Form (Word)
Example: Coach's fee is $100.00. The region will pay up to $50.00.
Restrictions
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The entire amount MAY NOT be used all at one time
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The total is NOT CUMULATIVE. Any money that remains in your account after April 30th, will not be carried over to the next year nor will it be given to you.
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All coaching sessions should be completed by April 15th so that the Finance Coordinator can receive the paperwork before the end of the fiscal year.
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