SAI Denver Alumnae Chapter Spring 2018 Newsletter

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Denver Alumnae Chapter * Xi C Province, Region 1

Spring 2018 * Volume 67, Issue 3

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

Chapter Chatter

In April the Sigma Upsilon chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota at the University of Denver welcomed four new Members-in-Training! The new Members-in-Training are Rachel Webb, Abigail, Jo, and Julie Burke. The chapter also welcomed a new affiliate, Elizabeth Tobald from Kansas State University! The initiation is planned for May 19th - details will be sent out via email to the Denver Alumnae Chapter. The Sigma Upsilon chapter has eight graduating seniors this coming June.

The first informal SAI Spring social event was a success! Five sisters visited the Denver Art Museum - Marion Talley, Dee Netzel, Krista Aliga, Cassidy Boone, and Emily Kintigh. The sisters were joined by Emily's fiance Nick, Krista's brother Connor, and Krista's friend Colleen. It was a pleasant trip to the museum followed by lunch at MadGreens. We look forward to the next informal social event on Sunday, June 3rd at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science! If you have questions about the upcoming social events, please contact Cassidy: cassidy.boone@gmail.com.

Fraternity Education
2018 Convention!
Marion Talley
Vice President, Ritual

As a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, a first choice for a vacation is with over 500 SAI sisters from across the states. From July 26-30, SAI members will meet at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona for the 49 th National Convention. Check out the details at sai-national.org website.

A second choice is to visit Peterborough, New Hampshire, specifically the 450 wooded acres of
MacDowell Colony. There you may visit Pan’s Cottage which SAI supports. Just walking the grounds you can experience th quiet and feel your own creative juices start to flow! If you cannot put your feet down at MacDowell Colony, check out the website (macdowellcolony.org) and be inspired. By June 30th , 2018, SAI Philanthropies, Inc., in partnership with MacDowell Colony, has the goal to raise $100,000 to conduct a major renovation of Pan’s Cottage. Let our Denver Chapter Treasurer, Sabrina Green, receive your donation in gratitude for the opportunities Pan’s Cottage offers to creative minds. Even a trip via the website is refreshing when you know Pan’s Cottage is offering a creative space for so many.

Happy travels!

SHAKER WELCOME
February Meeting
By Donita Banks

Donita Banks welcomed us to her Lakewood home on February 18 for fellowship, refreshments, a delightful program and a formal business meeting. Thirteen members and one guest, Donita’s friend, Evelyn McKenzie, gathered to enjoy Shaker treats and peruse Donita’s display of Shaker music, books, photos, oval boxes and other memorabilia. Cohostess Linda Rolf baked a “Spicy Apple Sauce Cake” found in a Shaker cookbook. Donita prepared a fruit punch from our SAIcookbook and offered other treats to carry out her orange and green color scheme, as shown in the Shaker symbol, “The Tree of Life.”

Donita then presented “ Come Dance and Sing—a Sampler of Shaker Music”, joined by flutist Sarah Bencomo. Donita sang a variety of songs, most from the 1830s and 1840s, a cappella with simple movements, some accompanied by tambourine, and invited everyone to join in on several of them. She talked about the history of the Shakers, the most successful religious Early American religious sect, whose 19 communities thrived in New England and the Midwest for over 100 years. Just one community in Maine is now active where the last 2 Shakers reside. Several other communities have been preserved and restored as “living museums.” The Shakers are especially noted for their songs (over 10,000) and dances. Donita and Sarah closed with a medley featuring the most famous Shaker song, “Simple Gifts,” and the well-known hymn, “Lord of the Dance,” based on the tune of “Simple Gifts.”

Marion Talley presided over the formal business meeting. Her Fraternity Education presentation highlighted our National Executive Board members so Convention attendees can recognize them. Convention details and information about our upcoming Province Day were shared.

CONVENTION UPDATES!!!!

XI C PROVINCE DAY 2018

Our National Website is ALWAYS the best place to go for the latest information about National Convention. Here's an overview of recent updates:

Register by May 31 to get the early bird pricing!

Reserve your room at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa! Group rate available until June 25, 2018. Subject to availability. (Hint, hint - Your Editor already has her roommates figured out - do YOU?????)

Click HERE for all the important details about Convention!

BOOK REVIEW - THE ENCORE
from Linda Rolf

The Encore
A Memoir in Three Acts
By Charity Tillemann-Dick

Charity Tillemann-Dick grew up in Denver and graduated from Regis University with honors at the age of 18. She saw her first opera at the age of 5 and decided then that she wanted to be a great opera singer. She devoted her life to that goal.

She was a student at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest where she was a Fulbright scholar and attended the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University. She sang with many different orchestras and in other events and it seemed her dream was coming true.

At the age of 20 she was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension which is a thickening of the blood vessels in the lungs and creates severe breathing problems and damage to the heart. She took a number of medicines over the next five years but her condition deteriorated until she was a candidate for a double lung transplant which occurred when she was 26. She shares the experience which was medically horrendous. She received incredible support from her mother, her soon-to-be Fiancé and her ten siblings. She interweaves her opera training and experiences with her medical treatments which
were often happening simultaneously.

The book is set up in a unique way. Instead of chapters her memoir is in three acts with operatic scenes as section headings. Each scene begins with an excerpt from an opera in the original language and in English. I listened to the book on CD, which she narrates. She sings each excerpt, which was a treat as she has a very lovely and powerful voice.

Of interest to us in the Denver Alumnae chapter, she includes an acknowledgement to Karen Clifton Kappler who was a former member. Karen was her piano teacher and Charity writes that Karen was “a compassionate teacher who made a difference in my life and started me on my road to music”.

This amazing memoir would be interesting reading for anyone but especially for those of us who love music and opera. Charity currently lives in Denver and Washington, D.C. with her husband, Yoni.

UPCOMING EVENTS
BY Linda Rolf

KANTOREI
“One World, One Voice”
Sun, May 20, St. Andrew United Methodist Church, Highlands Ranch, 3:00 PM
Contact person: Sabrina Green

LAMONT SCHOOL OF MUSIC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
“Lamont Composer’s Series Concert”
Sun, May 20, 7:30 PM
Contact person: Nikki Frontz

COLUMBINE CHORALE
“Americana”
Sat, June 2, Central Christian Church, Denver 7:00 PM
Sun, June 3, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Denver, 4:00 PM
Contact person: Sarah Bencomo

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

March 20, Cindy Garrels
March 27, Rita Jo Tensly
March 29, Donita Banks
April 6, Debbie Kruckman
April 8, Krista Aliga
April 16, Glenda Powell
May 9, Katie Nicholson
May 10, Nancy Johnson
May 29, Clarissa Constantine.

IN LOVING MEMORY
KAREN LOUISE KAPPLER
1938—2018
By Donita Banks

Karen Kappler was a dedicated SAI who will be remembered for her musical gifts, her years of service to Denver Alumnae Chapter and her outstanding leadership skills. As our President 1997-1999, Karen not only provided the impetus for new ideas, goals and accomplishments but also became a springboard for our selection as the 1998 National Winner of the Alumnae Chapter Achievement Award. She was initiated as an SAI into Alpha Eta Chapter at Oklahoma Baptist University on April 27, 1957. Karen affiliated with our chapter in 1971 and served not only as President, but as Vice-President, Programs, Editor and Secretary, and many times on the Scholarship and other committees. For the 1997 SAI National Convention in Denver, she was chairman of the Memorial Ceremony and accompanist for a women’s choir. Karen performed in numerous programs for the chapter and sang with the SAI Singers on several occasions. She was awarded a Sword of Honor, the Rose of Honor and 50- and 60-year membership certificates.

Karen attended Oklahoma Baptist University, earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Denver and a Master of Music degree from the University of Colorado, both in Piano Performance. A pianist, organist and singer, she taught public school music and private music students, performed often in the community and was a church organist/choir director. On February 26, 2012, Karen retired after 24 years as Choir Director/Pianist/Organist at First Avenue Baptist Church, Denver. She met and married Karl Kappler there—he joined the choir when Karen became the director. Our chapter was fortunate to hold many events at the church with Karen as our hostess over the years. Several Denver alums attended her last worship service, preceded by a lovely selection of piano arrangements, and the beautiful lunch reception which followed.

Karen was born in Maud, Oklahoma, July 19, 1938. Her mother was a pianist and found a piano teacher for Karen at age 7. Karen married Sam Clifton, and together they had two daughters, Mary Louise Clifton of Seattle, Washington, and Catherine Sehorn of Shawnee, Oklahoma. Mary Louise is a paralegal in a law firm and an SAI patroness initiated by Seattle Alumnae Chapter. Cathy and her husband operate a large Yamaha agency selling various vehicles. Karen married Karl Kappler in 1989 and they traveled extensively in the US, Canada, Mexico and several other countries. They were active in the Gideon International Auxiliary. Karl is an SAI Friend of the Arts. Karen is survived by Karl, her two daughters, her sister, Ramona Farthing, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Karen loved music and loved the fellowship of our sisterhood and the opportunities to share our musical gifts with each other and in the community. We will miss you, dear sister.

From Your Editor
Clarissa Constantine

Happy almost summer! It's hard to believe we're almost to Memorial Day, which is always my reminder that summer is here!
Once again, I apologize for the delay in sending out the newsletter. I've been dealing with some health stuff both personally and within my family.
Our next deadline for newsletter contributions is still June 1.
As always, if you ever have questions or would like to contribute to the newsletter in any way, please feel free to reach out. (858-997-9259 or clarissaconstantine@gmail.com)

Roses,
Clarissa Constantine

If you're a vocalist (even if you've never actually had a vocal lesson) and would like to sing in an internationally ranked chorus full of amazing women from the Denver area, I'd love to have you join me at an upcoming Skyline Chorus Rehearsal. We rehearse at the Greek Orthodox Church on Alameda at 7PM on Tuesday evenings.

We are gearing up to represent Sweet Adelines International Rocky Mountain Region 8 on the International Stage this coming October. We currently have the third-highest Regional Competition score in the world and we would love to have more voices on the risers with us.

If you'd like to be a part of this, time is of the essence: deadline for new members to audition is mid-February.

Please contact Clarissa if you have any questions (858-997-9259).

**Click on the picture above to listen to our Regional Competition presentation last May!***

Upcoming Events

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

Thursday, May 24 @ 11:30AM
Local Service Project
Lunchtime Musicale @ The Gathering Place

Sunday, May 27 @ 6:00PM
Sigma Upsilon Initiation
Lamont School of Music

June 3 @ 9AM
Denver Alumnae Chapter Social Event - Museum of Nature & Science
Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80205, USA

Thursday, June 14 @ 11:30AM
Local Service Project
Lunchtime Musicale @ The Gathering Place

Saturday, June 16 @10:00AM
Founders' Day Celebration
Rockley Music Center, 8555 West Colfax, Lakewood, CO 80215

We Want Your Input!

This newsletter is a whole bunch more fun when we have input from all of our members. So please let us know when you have things to share! Especially let us know when you have upcoming performances so we can plan ahead to come support you.