The Cecilian Club meeting on Saturday, January 14, held at Madison County Public Library in Richmond featured the Eclectic Dulcimers and their program “The Versatile Dulcimer”. A variety of songs included:
Early Fiddle Tune: “Old Joe Clark”
Celtic: “Leaving Lismore” and “Wild Mountain Thyme”
Religious/Gospel: “Higher Ground” and “I Saw the Light”
Rag: “Pig Ankle Rag” and “Hale’s Rag”
Honky-Tonk: “Hey, Good Lookin'”
Country: “Take Me Home, Country Roads”
Caribbean: “Jamaica Farewell” and “Yellow Bird”
Rock: “Be Bop-a-Lula” and “Rock Around the Clock.”
Performers: Lyn Black, Jane Green, Lucie Nelson, Diane Peacock, Marilyn Roberts, Dianne Shuntich.
Song of the month “The Old Year”, was led by Margaret Foote and Laura Steidle read the poem “The Snowman”.
Thanks you to Laura Steidle for hosting the December 3rd club meeting at her lovely festively decorated home again this year. Refreshments were served provided by Laura, Lucie Nelson, Sue Reeves, and Marilyn Roberts — and the goodies included Marilyn’s wonderful reindeer cookies. A warm thanks to all of you for the goodies! The highlight of the meeting was the performance given by Madison Central chorus under the direction of Lisa Jury.
Donna Mitchell accompanied us on piano as we sang “Child in the Manger,” and Carla Smith read “The Night before Christmas.” Carla also read aloud an email from Sheila Ambler, who is doing well at her new home in Virginia.
St. Mark’s Catholic Church of Richmond provided the venue for the November 12th, 2022 Cecilian Club meeting. Featured performers were the Eastern Kentucky University Singers, under the direction of Dr. Richard Waters.
Beautiful selections which include, Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light by J.S. Bach, Responsorial by Eric William Barnum and Agnus Dei by Thomas Morely were on the program. Becky Shaw was piano accompanist, with Marie Banderman and Henry Heydinger as choral graduate assistants.
Goodie bag items collected by members and assembled were handed out to the choir members after the performance. A special thanks to the following: Sue Reeves for coordinating the assembly of the goody bags and those who assisted her: Carla Smith, Marilyn Roberts, Diane Shuntich, and Maragaret Foote. Thanks to all who brought goodies for the bags at our October meeting.
Episcopal Church of Our Saviour graciously provided the venue for the meeting and refreshments were served by hostesses, Jane Rainy, Margaret Foote, and Joan Kleine.
Featured guest and speaker, Dr. Ho-Yin Kwok, EKU Orchestra director along with Dr. Nathan Jasinski performed a violin cello Mozart duet. Dr. Kwok addressed the attendees at the meeting and information was shared regarding the repertoire chosen for the orchestra’s performances this academic year. He was also able to answer questions in regard to his personal background and the promotion of EKU Orchestra through e mails, and other advertising means.
We also heard from Ben Walker, our Foster Camp leader about Foster Music Club and its continuing mission.
Many thanks to Nancy Cotton for reading “Don’t Quit” by Whittier.
The September 17, 2022, business meeting was held at Grey Oaks Club House which was a lovely spot to enjoy refreshments provided by club members in a brunch style.
After refreshments were served by hostesses, Donna Mitchell, Arlayne Francis, Dianne Shuntich and Gwen Brussels, the meeting was conducted with President, Margaret Foote leading.
Members were delighted to hear “A Birthday” read by Carol Woolverton and to sing “Federation Hymn” accompanied by Margaret Foote on keyboard.
Concluding the meeting, we heard sad news from former president, Carla Smith of her upcoming move to Pennsylvania in the spring. She generously brought each of the members present a lovely teacup and saucer from her collection that she wanted to share as a parting gift! We are sad to loose her, but will continue to think of her as she and her husband Gil start this new phase of their life.
We must acknowledge of our dear friend, Sheila Ambler (formerly, Lippman) who has already moved to be closer to relatives in Virginia this past August. She is remaining on our associate members list and I am sure we will hear from her often. Best wishes, Sheila!
The last Cecilian Club meeting of the 2021-2022 year, held in person on May 21, celebrated a “Walk Through Time: The Cecilian Club Founder’s Day.” Location for this lovely event was the historic Walker House, where, in 1886, the first meeting of what became the Cecilian Club took place. Several members dressed for the occasion, with an 1890s look from Rose Harmon, fashion elegance of the mid-twentieth century from Doris Lash, and an evocation of the 1960s (and the Preakness) from the hat adorning the head of Carla Smith.
One of the purposes of the Cecilian Club is to offer scholarships to promising music students; during the meeting Dr. Nathan Jasinski, cello professor at EKU (and owner of the Walker House), expressed his deep gratitude to the Club for awarding a $1,000 scholarship to one of his students, Alexandria McClinton, so she could attend an upcoming summer college program at Rocky Ridge Camp in Boulder, Colorado. Ms. McClinton had successfully passed the audition for this program, and needed some financial assistance to attend, and the Cecilian Club Scholarship Committee rose to the occasion. We hope she will perform for us during a fall meeting.
In celebration of Founder’s Day, several members performed piano solos; others read poetry, often centered on the theme of love. One member, Sheila Ambler, has begun to explore jazz piano. She read to the group the lyrics of her first original jazz piece, and then played the music on piano.
Refreshments for this gathering were coordinated by Rose Harmon, with contributions from Carla Smith, Desiree Scarambone, Joyce Wolf, Doris Stanley, and Margaret Foote. The lovely bouquet of peonies, also a contribution from Carla, gave that added touch of loveliness to his concluding spring event for the Cecilian Club.
Submitted by Margaret Foote, Cecilian Club President, Photographs provided by Carla Smith.
Carol Woolverton Reads PoetrySheila Lippman Ambler Introduces Her Original Piano CompositionJane Rainey Introduces Her Piano Selection, an Ukrainian Folk SongMartha Davidson Reads a PoemRefreshments Served by Rose Harmon, The Lovely home of Dr. and Mrs. Nathan Jasinski Creates the Perfect Atmosphere
The Youth Musicale held on April 25th, 2022 at First Methodist Church of Richmond, coordinated by Harriet Bromley and assisted by the Musicale committee was in person again!
Participants
Congratulations to all involved in a wonderful evening of music, fellowship and delicious food. Thank you to the students who performed, their dedicated teachers and their supportive parents and families. Thank you to Harriet Bromley and the Musicale committee: Diane Peacock, Donna Mitchell and Mary Kearns. Thank you to Nancy Cotton and the hostesses: Lyn Black and Sonnie Maas, and to Carol and David Woolverton for arranging and setting up the lovely accommodations at the United Methodist Church. Thank you to Festival Chair, Sheila Lippman for distributing Superior certificates and announcing Gold Cup recipients. It was so wonderful to hear live music in a beautiful setting with music friends! Cecilian Club does such good work to encourage music education and performance in Richmond and Madison County. We can be so proud!
Nancy Cotton, Head Hostess Nice turnout for the eventGraduating Seniors Harriet Bromley, our Coordinator
Saturday, May 21. Location: Home of Dr. Nathan Jasinski at 441 N. Madison Avenue — very easy to find! Time: Meeting begins at 10:15 a.m.
A rough agenda:
Collect
Song of the month: In the Good Old Summertime. Bernardo Scarambone, pianist.
Poem of the month: “Summer.” To be read by Wilma Wollenweber.
I’m suggesting two brief reports — one from Carla Smith, state president, in case she would like to share out information about the state and the upcoming conference in Indianapolis.
Other: Update on Irene Muir luncheon — planning as of this morning is going quite well.
Program: Us! Sing, play piano, read poetry (I’m considering two short poems by Robert Burns), anything else that’s music or poetry.
Hostesses and other information — see p. 12 of the Yearbook.
This is our last meeting of the year. Let us rejoice that we’ve made it through a year of snow, rain, covid, zooming, not zooming. And summer is almost here!
The Music Festival held at First Presbyterian Church of Richmond, coordinated by Sheila Lippman and assisted by Carla Smith. Laura Steidle, Carol Woolverton, Laura Compton and Kathy Randles on March 26th, 2022 was able to be an “in person” event this year.
The judges for the event were Dr. Richard Crosby and Dr. Rachel Taylor. Many lovely performances were heard, certificates and gold cups earned as well. There were 36 piano solos, and 16 theory test entries.
Dr. Rachel Taylor and Dr. Richard Crosby, Judges for FestivalSheila Lippman, Head CoordinatorVolunteers’ Help Appreciated
The Cecilian Club 