January - the Healing Power of Breath

We enjoyed an unusual program in January with some unusual instruments. Guest Cris Gale brought her collection of ocarinas (which means “little goose”) and gave us a history of the ocarina - an ancient folk instrument played in many countries and now revived in Japanese animé movies and video games. She played several pieces with recorded accompaniment including:
- Theme from Laputa (Castle in the Sky) by Joe Hisaishi
- Okurabito (Melody of Love) by Joe Hisaishi from the anime movie Departures which is a 2008 Japanese film by Yōjirō Takita. It won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2009 Oscars. You may want to hear the soundtrack from the movie on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiyFeT0Tpkk
- Theme from Zelda - Song of Healing - sound track at: https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hsimp=yhs-att_001&hspart=att&p=Anime+movie+Zelda+-
+healing+song+music#id=24&vid=ed174b14781df591da3e68e775265281&action=view
- Theme from Osanino - a Japanese movie

Susan and Harald Poelchau introduced the chapter to their collection of gemshorns by playing two short medieval pieces on these unusual instruments made from zebu cattle horns. These instruments come in soprano, alto, tenor and bass depending on size of the horn.

Thanks to Susan for hosting with able co-hosting from Kimla Beasley.






February - the Healing Power of Harmony

Thanks to Phyllis Wilson we were able to meet at the recently renovated sanctuary and parlor at First Presbyterian Church downtown. We met for our annual joint event with the SAIs for a beautiful program.

SAIs Judy Dobbins and Shirley Howard, flutes, played Blue Skies - Irving Berlin, All of Me - Simons and Marks and When You Wish upon a Star - Leigh Harling.
SAI soprano Judy Kline (right) and pianist Betsy Durnin performed Art is Calling for Me by Victor Herbert.









MPE organist Nancy Laine wowed us with the Toccata by Eugene Gigout and Finale (from Symphony No. 1) by Louis Vierne.

The wonderful handbell choir of First Presbyterian played a variety of bells and demonstrated some. They played Fantasia on ENEMEZER by Williams, Capriccio No 2 by Michael Helman, Greensleeves, and Here We Come Good Christian Friends - a German melody arranged by Carol Lynn Mizell. Phyllis Wilson was the able director.

The whole group sang along with the last piece joined by volunteers from the audience to add a descending scale on the handbells.

The Mu Phis hosted with a tempting spread of goodies and punch. Thanks to all who brought refreshments.

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Tuesday March 19 at 7 pm - The Healing Power in Musical Family

Lisa Beyer will host at her home: 1910 Cap Rock Drive, Richardson.
Ashley Bouras will co-host.

The program will feature Ashley and Basil Bouras, clarinet duo.

We will initiate our new member Francis Vu at this meeting.


Saturday April 6 at 11 am - The Healing Power in Music Scholarship

At Lover's Lane United Methodist Church parlor, 9200 Inwood (first entrance off Inwood)

Please bring lunch items to help feed hungry students who will provide our program. Lisa Beyer will coordinate our lunch. Let her know what you are bringing.

We will announce our annual scholarship winner and that winner will perform.


Monday May 6 at 7 pm - The Healing Power of Song

Our host is Kimla Beasley and the location is 18951 Westwood Place, Dallas, TX 75287.

This is the home of Kimla's friend Pam who is lending it to her for the evening. The program will feature Kimla Beasley and Claudia Jameson, sopranos. We need a co-host for this meeting.

Please let Kimla Beasley know when you would like to co-host a meeting (bring goodies).




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New Members

Please welcome our two new members and add them to your yearbook:

Amy McCarty Canchola

Amy was a Mu Phi at Butler University in Indiana. On Tuesday, Feb. 19, she presented her DMA lecture/recital at UNT. That’s the last step to finish her doctorate. We congratulate Amy on her achievement! Amy attended our January meeting and is interested in some of the scholarships that Mu Phi offers.




Francis Vu

Francis, our special election member, is the Director of Choirs at Centennial High School, where he directs the A Cappella Women, Titan Men, Bella Voce, and Lyric choirs, along with Vibe, the premier vocal jazz ensemble. Previously, Francis taught at McKinney HS in McKinney, TX, and Rouse HS in Austin, TX. His choirs have received consistent Superior ratings in concert and sight reading at UIL Contest, and his students have enjoyed the experience of singing in the All-Region and All-State choirs.

Francis also serves as the Director of the Turtle Creek Chorale Chamber Chorus. He is the recipient of many awards and is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting at Michigan State University.

Welcome Francis.

Contact the President of Webmaster for more details on contact information.

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Type MuPhiEpsilonDallas on the search line within Facebook, then click on LIKE us.
This is especially helpful in promoting our concerts at the Library. Share with your friends what we are doing.

You can post your own performances there as well. We just cannot use that space to advertise or sell products.

Newsletter

Your Newsletter Editor Mary Williams appreciates having news and photos to print with your help. (No help? No news.) Please let her know what you are doing or if you have changes to your information.

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Our condolences to Pat Suitt on the death of her husband Charles who passed away in January after a long illness. His service on Saturday, February 2 was held at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church. He sang in several choirs who performed at his service. Several Mu Phis attended this beautiful tribute to Charles.

Ashley Bouras’ Youth on Stage group presented “Little Shop of Horrors” in February at Cox Playhouse in Plano.

Mary Ann Taylor spent a month in Germany with the Taylor Boys Play It Where It Lays Society (grandboys) and their parents. They had trips to Austria, France, and Switzerland with lots of snow. Almost never saw the sun. Mary Ann reports: "Too many things for a real by-the-numbers but here are two: Number of Yatzees I had in one game: 3. The boys could not bear it. The number of times some adult asked “Who tooted?” Innumerable. The 2-year-old will always admit guilt regardless of fact, however. Glad to be home but will miss them all."

Mary Williams just returned from a cruise to South America that featured an Atlantic storm and a Pacific storm, with lots of ship rocking and rolling. However, rounding Cape Horn happened on a smooth, sunny day. Several interesting tours including Buenos Aries, Montevideo, Santiago and visits to penguins on the UNESCO World Heritage site on the Valdez Peninsula and Tierra del Fuego National Park (the end of the world).

Jenny Smith didn't share anything about this publicly, but about a year ago she was nominated for a prestigious award at her college called the "Chancellor's exemplary teaching award". As her college district is one of the highest in enrollment in the state, and there are so many talented teachers, this is a big honor. Three people were nominated per campus, one winner per campus, and five winners in the whole Tarrant County Community College district. The portfolio she had to put together was equivalent in scope, or even exceeded, what she had to do for tenure.

She says she wasn't in the highest of spirits in March when she had to put everything that encompassed putting her teaching together in one document. At the time her Dad was very sick and she had no free time. She worked until midnight most days. It was during midterms and she was probably depressed. It was hard. But she gave her application her very best try to showcase what she does as a teacher and to help her peers in and out of class.

We are proud that Jenny was chosen as a recipient! She says: "What crazy excellent company to be mentioned with! Do I deserve this? My colleagues say 'yes of course!' So it must be true.”

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