Summer 2018 Newsletter

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Denver Alumnae Chapter * Xi C Province, Region 1

Summer 2018 * Volume 67, Issue 4

2017-2018 Denver Alumnae Theme
Back to Basics: Sisterhood, Sounds, & Service

Presidential Thoughts

By: Marion Talley
President

SAIs Acting Intentionally

As the SAI Denver Alumnae Chapter Executive Board makes plans for the 2018-2019 year, ACTION is the keyword. The EBoard has given thought and review of many factors to provide a meaningful year of activities. It is hoped that each member of the Denver Alumnae Chapter will join, as able, into the activities planned.

Our SAI sisterhood is special and is only kept alive by each SAI sister intentionally connecting with others in the chapter. As your elected president, I look forward to meeting each one of you face to face to learn of your love for SAI. I will soon be attending the Sigma Alpha Iota 49th National Convention as your voting delegate. There many SAI sisters will be connecting to do the ACTION of the fraternity.

Join me in a year of SAIs Acting Intentionally to make a strong sisterhood all the while promoting music.
Marion Talley, President
Denver Alumnae Chapter

Chapter Chatter

On Sunday, July 15th, a few sisters attend a performance of The Magic Flute at Central City Opera. They attended Brunch at Ameristar Black Hawk Casino before the performance. The seats and performers were fabulous. During intermission, the group got to hang out in the Donor Lounge.

Photographed: Arlis Adolf (friend of Marion, pianist/organist), Evelyn McKenzie, Donita Banks, Kate Charlton, Marion Talley
Also in attendance: Dorothy Nelson & Katie Nicholson (who worked the event)

The Upcoming Year 2018-2019
Krista Aliga - VP Programs

Sisters, I am really excited for this upcoming year. I have met with our Programs Committee, our newly elected President, and been in collaboration with our Executive Board. It is going to be a fun time!

I would like to take the opportunity to inform you that we are in need of only ONE more musicale spot to be filled. This is for our October 16 meeting. Please let me know if you are interested in sharing your musical talents this year for this meeting. I would also appreciate anyone who is interested in co-hosting to please contact me as well.

Our first meeting is Saturday, September 15 at 10:00 AM at the home of Mary Hanson. This will be a brunch potluck. Breads, entree, and beverage will be provided by your Executive Board. All other sisters, please bring a brunch appetizer or dessert!

Brunch will begin at 10:00 AM and our first business meeting of the year will begin no later than 11:00 AM. After our meeting we will be singing from our songbooks, so please bring your songbooks! This meeting is informal.

Save the Dates for the year:

Tuesday, October 16: Musicale will begin at 7:00 PM with our business meeting beginning by 7:30 PM.

Tuesday, November 27: Musicale will begin at 7:00 PM with our business meeting beginning by 7:30 PM.

Saturday, December 15 at 11:00 AM is our Incorporation Day Luncheon

Sunday, January 20: Musicale will begin at 2:30 PM with our business meeting beginning by 3:00 PM.

Sunday, February 17: Musicale will begin at 2:30 with our business meeting beginning by 3:00 PM.

Tuesday, March 19: Musicale will begin at 7:00 PM with our business meeting beginning by 7:30 PM.

Tuesday, April 16: Musicale will begin at 7:00 PM with our business meeting beginning by 7:30 PM.

Tuesday, May 21: Musicale will begin at 7:00 PM with our business meeting beginning by 7:30 PM.

Saturday, June 15 at 10:00 AM. This will be a brunch/potluck event with awards/honors, installation of new officers, and songbooks.

More details to follow regarding the year, but please save the dates! Again, if you are interested in performing a musicale, we have availability at our October 16 meeting. If you are interested in co-hosting - please let me know!

Many Roses, Success, and Music as we get closer to our new SAI year!
Krista Aliga, VP Programs

March 18 Meeting
By Donita Banks

Our March Meeting, held at the home of Krista Aliga, on a sunny Sunday afternoon (before a winter storm moved in that evening), featured a very entertaining program of several selections by the Mischief Quartet which they had prepared for a Sweet Adelines competition. Members include Marion Honemann (tenor), Clarissa Constantine (lead), Christine Rodriguez (baritone), and Holly Franzen (bass). Clarissa also shared enlightening information about the requirements and rules that the singers must follow to be able to compete.

We enjoyed visits by two special guests: Kristin Rousom, now affiliated with Boulder Alumnae Chapter, and Mayalisa Bordenkircher, Nu Province PO from Pullman, Washington, who is a good friend of Clarissa's. VP Ritual Marion Talley shared information about awards and introduced chapter award winners from last June, Donita Banks (Rose of Dedication), Dorothy Nelson (Wreath of Achievement), and Kristin Rousom (Rose of Honor). We then recognized our chapter's 78th anniversary by singing "SAI Mile High", written by Donita Banks and JoAnne Kyle for our 70th anniversary celebration in 2010. A performance of "The Magic Flute" by Mozart on July 15th was chosen for our Central City Opera Day 2018.

New board members for 2018-2019 were elected: President - Marion Talley; VP Membership - Clarissa Constantine; VP Programs - Krista Aliga; VP Ritual - Cassidy Boone; Secretary - Anna Maria Manalo; Treasurer - Sabrina Green; Editor - Rachel Davis.

April 17 Meeting
Written By: Donita Banks

The chapter met at Classic Pianos. The program of piano duets featured six chapter members: Dee Netzel and Marion Talley performed two selections from the musical "Lady Be Good"; Marion Hanson and Krista Aliga performed Sonatina in C by Carl Maria Von Weber and Kitty Waltz by Gabriel Faure; Donita Banks and Anna Maria Manalo performed Summer Dreams (a set of 6 short pieces) by Amy Beach and Tea for Two by Youmans, arr. Markur. Dorothy Nelson provided refreshments for the social time which was followed by a business meeting.

May 20 Formal Meeting
Written By: Donita Banks

A formal chapter meeting was held at the Holly Creek Retirement Community on Sunday afternoon, May 20th. The 2018 Dr. JoAnne Kyhl Performance Competition, organized by Cindy Garrels, featured members of Sigma Upsilon Chapter. Judges were Martha Lobmeyer, Anna Maria Manalo, and Rita Jo Tensly. Performers were as follows: Kassandra Lopez (flute), "Coltrane" by Dave Heath, Valeria de Luna-Kent (mezzo-soprano), "The Sky Above the Roof" by Vaughan Williams, Miranda Teski (french horn), "Eclipse for Horn" by Quentin Marchetti (who also accompanied on piano), Julie McCarthy (piano), "Blizzard" by Julie McCarthy. The winner was Valeria de Luna-Kent who received a cash prize. The other competitors received a certificate.

Refreshments and business followed, including a discussion about Phlea Phlam items for Convention.

June 16 Celebrations
Written By: Rachel Davis

Our sisters first met at Rockley's Music Center for SAI's Got Talent! Performers included Linda Rolf (piano) and Judy Scherschlight (cello), Sonata No. 5 by Antonio Vivaldi & Gabriel's Oboe by Ennio Morricone; Cassidy Boone (voice) and Anna Maria Manalo (piano), "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Harold Arlen; Marion Talley (piano) and Dee Netzel (piano), Hungarian Dance No. 5 by Johannes Brahms and Norwegian Dance Op. 35 No. 2 by Edvard Grieg; Sabrina Green (trombone) and Anna Maria Manalo (piano), Selections from the SAI Songbook; Donita Banks (piano) and Anna Maria Manalo (piano), "Built on a Rock" by Ludwig M Lindeman.

Members moved over to the Lakewood Church of the Nazarene for a Potluck Lunch, Affiliation of a new member, Installation of Officers, Awards, and a Founders Day Celebration.

The following sisters received awards and recognition:
Thank you to the nominating committee (Krista Aliga, Mary Hansen, and Marion Talley)

Anna Maria Manalo: Sword of Honor
She has gone above and beyond her chapter responsibilities with the Gathering Place service project, and her willingness to help our collegiate chapter, and alumnae sisters with accompaniment.

Sabrina Green: Rose of Honor
Sabrina has been active on the chapter, local level, and in the community. She's stepped in as Treasurer and taken on additional responsibilities with Yearbook Directory, fundraising chair and technology chair. In the community she is involved with the Thornton Community Band, Cantorie, and Province Day.

Cynthia “Cindy” Garrels: Patroness Sword of Honor
Cindy has gone above and beyond her Patroness duties. She co-hosted the Cherry Hill Retirement Home recital, is involved with archiving our chapter's history, sends sisters Courtesy Cards, and is stepping in as chair of the scholarship committee.

Dorothy Nelson 60 year membership

We also awarded 3 chapter awards.

Clarissa Constantine: Certificate of Excellence: For her work with By-Laws this past year.

Ardice Garrels: Certificate of Recognition: For always being present with all meetings and extracurricular activities the chapter holds.

Nikki Frontz: Certificate of Recognition: For stepping in as president this year and leading the chapter into the digital age.

Your new Executive Board is ready to serve.
Rachel Davis, Editor; Anna Maria Manalo, Secretary; Marion Talley, President; Cassidy Boone, VP Ritual; Clarissa Constantine, VP Membership; Krista Aliga, VP Programs; Sabrina Green, Treasurer.

CONVENTION UPDATES!!!!

Sabrina Green, Marion Talley, Cassidy Boone, and Rachel Davis crafted on a hot Saturday in July for Phlea Phlam! These gorgeous 6 pack of rose bobby pins will sell for $4 each!

Look forward to August for a special CONVENTION issue of the Newsletter!

Our National Website is ALWAYS the best place to go for the latest information about National Convention.

Click HERE for all the important details about Convention!

Ellen Shamas-Brandt
New Affiliate - June 16, 2018
Written by Donia Banks Edited by Rachel Davis

Ellen Shamas-Brandt grew up as part of a musical family in Tulsa, Oklahoma where she began piano lessons at age 6. She enjoyed performing in the Guild and various local MTA competitions and events growing up. Ellen's family moved to Denver when she started high school. She then earned her Bachelor of Music Degree from CU, Boulder, in Piano Performance and Pedagogy where she was initiated into Alpha Phi Chapter in 1984. She continued her education with her Master of Education from Vanderbilt University in Elementary Education in 1988 and a Ph.D. from CU, Denver, in Educational Leadership and Innovation with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education in 2012.

Ellen has taught elementary education in Douglas County and Littleton School Districts for 20 years. In 2016 she established a private piano and voice studio. Ellen is also the President of the Columbine Music Teachers Association and an adjunct instructor at Arapahoe Community College.

Ellen has two daughters, Kaylene Wright, age 22, and Annamarie Wright, age 19. Kaylene graduated last year from Hood College with a BA in Political Science and Communications. She is also a singer and performer. Annamarie, a cellist, just completed her freshmen year as a Music Education major at the University of Puget Sound where she was initiated into the Beta Delta Chapter of SAI in April. Ellen is married to George Brandt, a retired Army Colonel and psychiatrist.

Ellen currently sings with the Charles Wesley Choir and the St. Andrew Sisters Vocal Ensemble at St. Andrew UMC in Highland Ranch. She enjoys performing in and attending theater productions, reading, hiking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

June 14, Kate Charlton
June 20, Ellen Shamas-Brandt
July 6, Jeannette Armbrustmacher
July 13, Rachel Stone
July 17, Eleanor Coffey
July 26, Catherine Rands
August 3, Cassidy Boone
August 3, Mary Nichols
August 14, Dorothy Nelson
August 17, Louanne Shelton
August 31, Mary Hanson

From Your Editor
Rachel Davis

Happy July! I hope you have all been enjoying your summers with wonderful weather and loved ones.

It is my pleasure to release this summer edition Newsletter as the first of my term as Editor. As a new member of the Denver Alumnae, here is a little about me.

I was born and raised as an only child on Long Island in New York. I spent most of my time competitive dancing, performing in choir and theater productions, and taking the train into Manhattan for Broadway productions. After graduating in 2006, I earned my BA in Music Education: Voice and Theatre from West Chester University in Pennsylvania in 2010 and my MM in Music Education: Secondary from George Mason University in Virginia in 2012.

I was initiated into SAI in the spring of 2007 to the Epsilon Epsilon chapter where I held the position of Sergeant at Arms. While at George Mason, I was lucky enough to help the current colony become a charted chapter as their President and Vice President of Membership.

In Virginia I met my now husband, Paul, and worked for 5 years teaching middle school chorus and theater. After traveling across the country together in June of 2015, we fell in love with Colorado and Denver and decided we would move, which we did in September of 2017, after our honeymoon road tripping around Ireland.

Together we enjoy performing music together, Paul is a wonderful guitarist, attending live music concerts & food festivals, traveling to new places, playing with our two cats (Mikito and Frank), and camping in our hammocks. I currently teacher private voice & piano lessons in Littleton and will be starting a full time job this fall as the Chorus and Theatre teacher at the new McAuliffe Manual Middle School in Denver.

Upcoming Events

SAI National Convention
July 26 - July 30, 2018
Scottsdale, AZ

SAI Summer Picnic in the Park
Saturday, August 11, 2018
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Free, Bring potluck dish to share

Remember to check the calendar on our website for more information!

Please visit the websites for these organizations to obtain further concert information about tickets, addresses, etc.

We Want Your Input!

Please always feel free to send any articles, upcoming events, personal news, to the Editor for a feature in an upcoming Newsletter. (rachelgcassidy@gmail.com)
Announcements made at meetings will be included in future Newsletters. If your news is not something you'd like to be shared, please let me know during your announcement.