Winter/Spring 2020 Newsletter

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Denver Alumnae Chapter * Xi C Province, Region 1

Winter/Spring 2020 * Volume 69, Issue 3

2019-2020 Denver Alumnae Theme
"Echoes of the Past! Celebrating Our Future!"

Presidential Thoughts

By: Marion Talley
President

Dear SAI members,

So many walls have sprung up … so many detours to take!

As the coronavirus travelled around the world, March and the months following have been challenging for each one of us. The National Executive Board of Sigma Alpha Iota has stated that until further notice, there are to be no in-person chapter gatherings. Due to the virus being highly contagious, singing in a large group is one of the walls put up. What is an SAI to do?

Take time to think of new ways to express your creativity and your music sharing. Take time to call or email a Denver SAI sister and together brainstorm how these creative needs can be met. Your Executive Board has closed the 2019-2020 year with gratitude for all who contributed in its music programming and service. The new board looks forward to planning the next year of various activities to promote music, service and sisterhood. Until we meet again as a chapter, please take it upon yourself to reach out to a member and connect 1 to 1. Reach out to keep alive the strong spirit of Sigma Alpha Iota.

Roses,
Marion Talley, President
Denver Alumnae Chapter

Chapter members and guests at the February Sipping N' Painting Fundraiser displaying their art work.

Chapter Chatter
Here's what you've missed

On December 7th, members gathered at The Great Northern for our annual celebration of Incorporation Day. Members started our time capsule and shared stories of our SAI histories as we added artifacts to the capsule.
On January 19th, members gathered for their monthly meeting
On February 2nd, members and guests participated in the Sipping N' Painting Fundraiser. We raised almost $300 for SAI Philanthropies, Inc.
On February 16th, members met at the home of Krista Aliga. There was a "Name That Tune" game with popular songs from the 1940s led by Linda Rolf and a lovely presentation about the singer Jessye Norman as our FRED led by Donita Banks.
On February 29th, members shared a musicale at the Cherry Creek Retirement Community where member Rita Jo Tensley currently resides.
Congrats to the newly elected Executive Board. The Executive Board will be installed as soon as we can meet again.
- Marion Talley, President
- Jessica Knieff, Vice President Membership
- Keena Day, Vice President Ritual
- Anna Maria Manalo, Vice President Programs
- Alyse Greenberg, Secretary
- Sabrina Green, Treasurer
- Rachel Davis, Editor
Thank you to Shelley McCluskey and Linda Rolf for their dedication to the Executive Board the past years. We are grateful for your service.

Performers from the February Cherry Creek Retirement Musicale (left)
Marion Talley, Nikki Frontz, & Anna Maria Manalo from the January Meeting (right)

Sweet, Sweet Music

So much music has been shared so far in the 2019-2020 Year for Denver Alumnae.
If you missed a meeting or just want to enjoy again, check out this link for videos and photos!

January Chapter Meeting

Special Art Songs with Dear Sisters by Nikki Frontz
- "Du bist wie eine Blume" by Robern Schumann
  - Accompanied by Marion Talley (piano)
- "Von ewiger Liebe" by Johannes Brahms
  - Accompanied by Marion Talley (piano)
- Three Dream Portraits by Margaret Bonds
  - Accompanied by Anna Maria Manalo (piano)

February Chapter Meeting

Linda Rolf prepared a "Name That Tune" game with popular songs from the 1940s. Linda played the tune on the piano and members had to try to guess the song title, artist, composer, or musical the song was from. Members had fun singing along and trying to remember the words to some classics.

February Musicale at Cherry Creek Retirement Community

Anna Maria Manalo (violin) and Marion Talley (piano)
- "Sonatina: Movement 1 by A. Dvorak
- "Andantino" by C. Gluck
- "Crane Dance" by L. Einaudi
Rachel Cassidy Davis (voice) and Krista Aliga (piano)
- "Someone to Watch Over Me" by G. Gershwin
Catherine Rands (harp)
- "I Dream of Jeanie" by S. Foster
- "Beautiful Dreamer" by S. Foster
- "LIttle Fountain: by Pratt
- "Amazing Grace" Trad.
Anna Maria Manalo (piano) and Mary Stromer Hanson (saxophone)
- "Blues Jam"
- "Softly as in a Morning Sunrise" by Hammerstein/Romberg
Judy Scherschlight (cello) and Linda Rolf (piano)
- "Three Concert Pieces" Op. 27 by W. Fitzenhagen
  - No. 1 Cavatina
  - No. 3 Mazurka
Donita Banks (piano) and Anna Maria Manalo (piano)
- "Pieces Romantique" Op. 55 by C. Chaminade
  - No.1 Primavera
  - No. 2 La Chaise a Porteurs
  - No. 4 Serenade d'Automne
  - No. 6 Rigaudon

During the weekend of May 16th, the Denver Alumni Chapter held our annual JoAnne Kyhl Memorial Performance Competition. We are proud to announce the winning sisters Rose Khorsandi (right) and Leslie Hisman (left). Rose performed Syrinx by Debussy and Leslie performed 2 movements of the Sonata in C Major by Taktakishvili.

Remembering Events
that did not occur due to Covid-19

**March 15th - Chapter Meeting

March 19 & 20 - The Addams Family Young@Part Musical at McAuliffe Manual Middle School - Rachel Davis, Director

*March 21st - Province Day 2020, hosted by the Denver Alumnae Chapter

April 16 - Mile High Community Band Spring Concert - Alyse Greenberg

**April 19th - Chapter Meeting

May 16 - Concert with the Spirituals Project Choir: . Gates Concert Hall – Newman Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Denver. The Spirituals Project National Conference — “Healing 2020” (Choir featured on CBS https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-spirituals-project-preserve-african-american-musical-spirituals-denver-2020-02-27/)
The Spirituals Project is an award-winning secular organization established in 1998 by DU Professor Dr. Arthur Jones and is now part of the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music. Its mission is the preservation and revitalization of the music and teachings of the songs commonly known as “spirituals” created and first sung by enslaved African women and men in America in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Spirituals Project operates a number of community-based programs involving performance and education, including regular concerts by its renowned multi-ethnic, multi-generational choir. The organization also maintains a popular online educational resource, Sweet Chariot: The Story of the Spirituals, which provides information and guides for further study about the multifaceted history and cultural impact of the spirituals tradition. - Nikki Frontz

**May 17th - Chapter Meeting & SAI's Got Talent

**June 13th - End of Year Bruncheon

** - Official Chapter Business
* - SAI Event

Chapter members and guests at our Annual Incorporation Day luncheon on 12/17/19

Rita Jo Tensly - March 27
Donita Banks - March 29
Glenda Powell - April 16
Katie Nicholson - May 9
Nancy Johnson - May 10
Ellen Shambas-Brandt - June 20
Jeanette Armbrustmacher - July 6
   Rachel Stone - July 13
Eleanor Coffey - July 17
Cassidy Boone - Aug 3
Mary Nichols - Aug 3
Dorothy Nelson - Aug 14
       Nicole Kobayashi - Aug 15
       Louanne Shelton - Aug 17
       Keena Day - Aug 27
       Mary Hanson - Aug 31
Anna Maria Manalo - Sept 7
Callie O'Buckley - Sept 11

Need More Pictures?

Here is a link for a photo album of more pictures & videos from the last few months. I can easily add more photos to it even after you've received this newsletter so if you have photos from past SAI Events, please get them to me and I can add them to the album.
If you have a Google account, you can also add your own photos!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cjpDLYhuZALS7rva9

From Your Editor
Rachel Davis

Thank you for your patience as I tried to figure out how to proceed with our Winter and Spring newsletter with so many changes.
If you'd like to share a message to your sisters about how you've been handling social distancing or have any GOOD NEWS to share, please email saidenvereditor@gmail.com

As well as our MailChimp email, I also send our Newsletter in PDF to our chapter email list server for those who prefer to print their newsletter before reading. If you do not receive that email, please email me at saidenvereditor@gmail.com so you can be added to the list!
Look forward to our next Newsletter at the end of May.

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. (saidenvereditor@gmail.com)

Announcements made at meetings may be included in future Newsletters. If your news is not something you'd like to be shared, please let me know during your announcement.