Our second "2nd Sunday" Singing yields increase...

It hardly seems like it's been a whole month, but the Shiloh Singers' December singing had a good group of 13 singers on Sunday afternoon, December 9th.  As usual, we were in the Country Store on the grounds of the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale. This was the second month on our new schedule of singing on the 2nd Sunday of each month. 

We were also honored to have a visiting singer from Tallahassee, FL at our Sunday's singing. Angela Mele, a biological illustrator, is working with a professor at the Univ. of Arkansas for several days. Angela also attended the recent Florida State Singing Convention in Panama City, FL and she helped our group in several different sections during the afternoon.

Credit: Robert Chambless  via Google+

Photo: Shannon Seyler,  a former Shiloh Singer, sang at the Florida State Singing Convention, adding her fine voice to the Alto Section at the two-day event in early December. First, Syd Caldwell found a picture of Shannon for the newsletter, then Shannon wrote that while singing, she thought about all the Arkansas singers and even met someone who knew Syd from his trips to sing in Alabama and Georgia. I'll let Shannon take over in her own words:

"The convention was held at a Holiday Inn. I booked a room, and it was fantastic to just get up and go downstairs to the singing. It was really convenient. A brand new version of the Cooper Book has just been released, and I got a copy while I was at the convention.

"I sang Sacred Harp recently at a little Baptist college in Graceville. It was a public demo. A lot of people came and listened. After that, a dulcimer group played. I've contacted them about having a look at a dulcimer that my father made for me. I don't really know much about dulcimers, so maybe they can help me out."

Shannon added that she's also singing with a church choir that's performing Handel's Messiah for Christmas Eve, which involves singing and playing the hand bells at the same time. Those of us in Arkansas appreciated Shannon's musical talents for some time. Florida has gained a very fine singer this past year.

At our November 12th singing, Syd Caldwell brought several DVD's from the United Convention in Henagar in September and the Memorial Singing Convention in Oneonta in October. Several singers requested copies which were distributed at the December singing this past Sunday. Additional copies will be sent to those who were not able to attend on Sunday due to illness or schedule conflicts.

Special thanks to the cooks who baked cookies to go with the coffee and soft drinks during the break. Dan Brittain, pitched a "double-header" on Sunday, first performing in a Christmas band concert and then arriving at the Shiloh singing shortly after the break to sing in the second half of our event.

On November 27th, Katy and I had a chance to visit with Anita and Don Buswell in Mountain Home. While Don requires oxygen now, he was moving around the house with a walker when we arrived. Don said he was feeling stronger and Anita added that Don does better and seems to get stronger at home. She also said that she and Don miss our monthly singings and we certainly miss them both as well.

The next regular singing of the Shiloh Sacred Harp Singers will be on January 13, 2013 at 1:30 P.M. in the Shiloh Museum's Country Store in Springdale. Syd is still working to arrange a possible "get-together and singing" with Cheri Hardy from Massachusetts who will be visiting our area over the Christmas holidays - Dec. 22 to Jan. 2. Several singers said they would try to attend if their schedules permitted. We'll use the email list to get the word out as soon as details can be worked out.

And as a final word, thanks to all who have contributed to the Shiloh Singers in so many different ways during the past year. It would take all afternoon to list everything and even then, I'm afraid that with my fading memory I'd leave someone out. Still, thanks are due for adding your voice to our group and for your support to continue the tradition of Sacred Harp singing in the Ozarks. Please add my personal thanks for the emails and pictures which during the year found their way into portions of the newsletter and website. With that, it's time to say...