If you missed the singing school and NWA Fall Singing Convention with Rene Greene, which was a special treat, beginners are always welcome and we have special handouts and loaner songbooks to help you learn more about Sacred Harp singing. You'll be singing in no time.
Photo: Rene Greene, from Alabama, was the instructor at the
10/25/13 NWA singing school. NW Arkansas Fall Sacred Harp Singing Convention and Singing School: Officially, the Friday night singing school enjoyed a mix of 13 new and experienced singers - small enough for individual attention and big enough to get a good variety of questions answered. Rene Greene's father was a song writer and a leader among Alabama's Sacred Harp groups and Rene attended her first singing when she was only two weeks old. Rene, like her father and so many others, is carrying on a tradition that's important to our past and a legacy for our future. The Shiloh Singers appreciated Rene's time and effort to help our group.
Photo: The group photo taken at the conclusion of the 2013 NWA Fall Sacred Harp Singing Convention at the Springdale First United Methodist Church on 10/26/13.
Saturday's regional singing convention enjoyed the participation of 26 singers, many from the previous evening, but with more singers filling each section. It's a long list to thank everyone who worked to pull the event together but a few of the highlights include: Bill Caldwell, Fall Convention Chairman; Dan Brittain, Director of Music, Syd Caldwell, Arrangements; Holly Childs, Springdale First United Methodist Church and their staff for the site arrangements; Alexis Walker, Table Decorations; Gail Cowart, Special Signs for the event; Katy Black, Secretary; and all who helped at the registration table and brought their best pot luck recipes, desserts and drinks for lunch and the breaks. Rene Greene and Jimmy Moore, also from Alabama, stayed for the convention. Rene and Dan continued to provide short instructional segments for the new singers and special visitors.
Special visitors? Oh yes. We even enjoyed a special Saturday afternoon visit from 23 members of the Oklahoma Methodist Manor in Tulsa who came to visit the singing and visit the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. Thanks to Irene Brown, Life Enrichment Coordinator, who brought the group as part of a "double-header" with the museum. Several of the Oklahoma group were singing along and Irene even led one of the tunes. You can see a shot of the Oklahoma group, as well as the table decorations in the video below.
And finally. a big thanks to all the singers who traveled from Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas and all the way from Alabama to help us fill the hall with song and the fellowship that makes each of our spring and fall conventions so special.
I hope you enjoy the sample and can sing with the Shiloh Singers on Sunday, November 10th at the Shiloh Museum.
