Newsletter
Greetings,
Mu Phis!
Happy New Year, Mu Phi members and friends!
Welcome to 2020, the beginning of a brand new decade! So many exciting
things are coming up – some wonderful music at our meetings, the second
semester of our library concert series, and preparation for the
international Mu Phi convention in July! With our 2020 vision, we can
see clearly now (or at least that’s what the song says)!
I’m looking forward to our first meeting of the year on Monday, January
13, at Lisa Beyer’s house. I’m excited to be able to hear Julie Schmidt
sing some of her own compositions! And Susan Poelchau and friends will
treat us to some really early music!
Before we leave 2019 altogether, I want to reflect a little. The holiday
season is often a hectic time for musicians. But it’s also such blessing
to be able to share our musical talents to bring joy to so many people.
It never ceases to amaze me to see folks, especially those who can
barely communicate, singing along with the old favorite Christmas
carols. The way music is able to interact with the brain is a true
miracle, and it certainly gives credence to the claim that “music is the
noblest of all the arts, a source of much that is good, just, and
beautiful.”
I also want to thank Kimla Beasley, Mary Williams, Susan Poelchau, and
Claudia Jameson for their work on the library concert series (now in its
83rd year!). Last fall, Kimla coincidentally met Glenn Ayars, who just
happens to be the Cultural Programs Manager at the City Of Dallas. She
told him of our downtown library series, and he encouraged her to apply
for a funding grant for cultural programs. Knowing that a grant could
help pay for publicity and piano tuning for the series, the team jumped
into gear and put together a presentation they made a few weeks ago.
Although we did not win the grant in that round, Glenn (who
coincidentally is a Mu Phi from SMU himself) has encouraged us to apply
again during the next round. Bravo to the team! We’re pulling for you in
the next round!
The International Mu Phi convention in July will be here before we know
it, and this time it’s literally here (i.e., Grapevine). There are LOTS
of opportunities for us to start working on now! In fact, there’s a
whole separate section of this newsletter devoted to convention needs,
so be sure to check that out. I’m also happy to say our very own that
Francis Vu (recent special election) will be directing the convention
chorus.
Best wishes to you all for a wonderful new year! Hope to see you on
January 13!
Loyally,
Nancy Laine
Top
November - Visionary Founders
We met at the home of Claudia Jameson and thank her and co-host Tena
Hehn who prepared a beautiful spread.
Nancy shared with members the Founders Day greeting from Rosemary
Ames:
Happy Founders Day! A mere 116 years ago, our beloved fraternity
was founded, November 13, 1903. Find time during the month of
November to pause and reflect on our good fortune to be members of
such a wonderful organization and be thankful for our Mu Phi
friends, both near and far.
See you in Grapevine, TX in July at the convention!
Rosemary Ames
Soprano Dr. Amy Canchola presented the theme of her doctoral
dissertation: Songs by Maria Grever, accompanied by Colleen
Kilpatrick. As Duo Floreciente they are receiving many engagements,
including performing at NATS. They have been chosen to perform at
the Women in Music conference in March. Amy told the story of
Grever's life and career, and performed 7 of her beautiful songs,
composed from 1926 to 1946.
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The theme for this year’s meetings is 2020 Vision to celebrate this
coming year’s convention in Dallas. We are trying to incorporate 2020 in
as many ways as possible into our meeting themes and selections.
January – 2020 Hindsight
Monday January 13, 7 pm
Home of Lisa Beyer
1910 Cap Rock Drive, Richardson
405-334-3343
Program:
“Une jeune fillette” by Jean Chardevoine (1576) arr. Sam Kiely
“Fantasia #2 and #4” by Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)
Rachel Phares, Susan Poelchau and Susan
Scheib, violas da gamba
“Songs of Reflection” composed by Julie Schmitt
To my grown up children
The hole in the water
Do not ask me to remember
My younger days
Back home
Amy Canchola, Julie Schmitt, sopranos
Susan Poelchau, piano
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February – Joining Together
Joint Meeting with SAI
Monday, February 10, 7pm
Arapaho United Methodist Church
1400 W Arapaho Rd
Richardson TX 75080
Program:
Two Fantasias a5 by Richard Dering (c. 1580–1630)
Dallas Consort of Viols: Allen Garvin, Mary
Beth Hays,
Rachel Phares, Susan Poelchau, Susan Scheib
“Mein Herz ist bereit” SWB 341, by Heinrich Schütz
Claudia Jameson, soprano, Louise Bowers and
Mary Alice Rich, violins;
Susan Poelchau, continuo; and Gretchen
Nichols, cello
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Your Newsletter Editor
Mary Williams appreciates knowing what you are doing or if you
have changes to your information. Your news is our news. Next
Newsletter deadline is March 9.
Spread the word! Sign up for our Facebook page and share our concert
series postings. You can post your own performances there as well.
We just cannot use that space to advertise or sell products.
Top
Kary Caboose is beginning a degree in computer engineering with a minor in
music. She is still working full time at Nebraska Furniture Mart, and is
enrolled in 17 units last semester and signed up for 19 this semester. She
is incredibly busy but maintaining good grades so far (on track for a 4.0 -
woo hoo!), and managing work well. She isn’t finding much time to practice,
but still plays her French horn daily. She is taking a lot of classes each
semester to graduate in 3 years instead of 4 years. Best wishes Kary!
Pat Suitt, Sylvia Taylor and Mary Williams had some minor tornado damage in
October's storm but are OK.
Please correct Lisa Beyer’s phone number in your yearbook. Contact the
webmaster for her number.
Ashley Bouras played her clarinet with the New Life Symphony Orchestra on
November 10th in Garland.
Nancy Laine performed on a “Bach's Lunch” concert with her guitarist son
Chris Unzicker and church bell-ringers on Tuesday Dec. 3 at Custer Road UMC.
Chris Brunt (center below) gave an organ concert the following Tuesday at
Custer Road with assistance from Pete Tolhuizen, trumpet and Jane Fore,
flute.
Amy Canchola and Colleen Kilpatrick performed in a “Distinguished Lives”
program on Sunday, November 17, at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in
Dallas.
Walteria Caldwell and her daughter Aria performed in Amahl and the Night
Visitors in December with her Diversita Opera Company.
Welcome Debbie Brooks back to our chapter. She says: “It has been quite a
while since I’ve been active in Mu Phi. I was District Director for 6 years
out of college and loved it. There hasn’t been an alumni chapter in Tarrant
County in decades.”
Debbie Brooks
debcello@icloud.com
info@dfwmusiciansservices.com
http://www.dfwmusiciansservices.com
Debbie Brooks was the 1977 Sterling Achievement winner and was our District
Director for 6 years following her graduation from UNT. Her areas of
expertise are career development/music business, performance, contracting,
and she frequently speaks on ethics.
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The Concert Series for spring begins on the last Sunday in January - Jan
26th with the 100th anniversary of the Musical Arts club. Many members from
the club anticipate performing on the program.
Our Tarleton Mu Phi, Leslie Spotz, will be performing two Beethoven sonatas
on Feb 2 - the Waldstein and Appassionata. We are off to a great start!
The Concert Series for spring begins on the last Sunday in January - Jan
26th with the 100th anniversary of the Musical Arts club. Many members from
the club anticipate performing on the program.
Our Tarleton Mu Phi, Leslie Spotz, will be performing two Beethoven sonatas
on Feb 2 - the Waldstein and Appassionata. We are off to a great start!
Changes to our original schedule for spring are:
• February 16: Recent cancelation of Sloman violin students; a replacement
pending
• March 1: Szu-Ying Huang and Gustavo Romero - duo-piano
• March 15: Catalin Dima, piano
If 2020 is like past years, there will be more changes and additions to our
series. Keep tuned by seeing the website: www.muphiepsilondallas.org. Click
on Concert Series.
Pick up posters for displaying at a library near you at the next meeting,
plus a few "business cards" that you can give friends with our website and
Facebook contact info on it; YOU can help promote our series.
Our
goal is to have every member help at a Sunday concert at least one time a
year. So, if you have not done that this year, tell Kimla what Sunday works
for you.
We applied for a $5000 grant from the City of Dallas Office of Arts and
Culture to support our concert series after a chance encounter Kimla Beasley
had with Manager Glen Ayars, who is a Mu Phi from SMU. Kimla, Susan
Poelchau, Mary Williams and Claudia Jameson presented a well-crafted
presentation (professionally done by Kimla) in a very limited time period,
but were not chosen for funding this time. We will continue to pursue this
avenue of funding. If you have other sources of funding – especially for
needed piano maintenance this year – contact Kimla.
Changes to our original schedule for spring are:
• February 16: Recent cancelation of Sloman violin students; a replacement
pending
• March 1: Szu-Ying Huang and Gustavo Romero - duo-piano
• March 15: Catalin Dima, piano
If 2020 is like past years, there will be more changes and additions to our
series. Keep tuned by seeing the website:
www.muphiepsilondallas.org.
Click on Concert Series.
Pick up posters for displaying at a library near you at the next meeting,
plus a few "business cards" that you can give friends with our website and
Facebook contact info on it; YOU can help promote our series.
Our goal is to have every member help at a Sunday concert at least one time
a year. So, if you have not done that this year, tell Kimla what Sunday
works for you.
Top
July 22-26, 2020 in Grapevine, TX
Embassy Suites Hotel, 2401 Bass Pro Drive, Graeving, TX.. This hotel is
just north of FDW airport and west of the Hwy 121/LBJ interchange.
Put this date on your calendar. You will
want to be there.
The host chapters are:
Mu Phi Epsilon 
