Amazing Memories from the 100th Anniversary Performance at Titanic - Pigeon Forge  

Nashville Singers took an amazing and memorable 17-hour road trip to East Tennessee on Saturday to participate in a very special and historic event. Donning tuxedos (provided by Ambassador FormalWear) the chorus was commissioned to perform a few of our songs (The Lord's Prayer, and Danny Boy) as part of a musical tribute honoring the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Media outlets from around the world were on hand to cover the event. 

Other performing ensembles included Nashville's Circle Players, performing scenes from the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, RMS Titanic, the Jon Shell Grandfather Mountain Highlanders, performing on the bagpipes, and the Sound Company Children's Choir. Performing with the Sound Company Children's Choir, were members of another children's choir from Switzerland called StimmWerkBande. A very talented soloist named Danielle Ward from North Carolina performed, My Heart Will Go On.

Members of the Clergy involved in the memorial included Father Brando, Rev. Tom Sterbens, and Rabbi Eric Carlson.   

Also honored were many descendants of the members of the Titanic's passengers and crew. This included many generations of the Abelseth, Archer, Bateman, Brown, Butt, Collette, Coutts, Crafton, House, Lightoler, Murphy, Portaluppi, Tyerson, and Straus families.

Right at 4,000 people were on hand to witness the event, capped off by a reprise of Godspeed Titanic featuring the full cast of 160 performers.  

This article includes a few of the hundreds of photos taken that day, along with reflections from many members of the Nashville Singers.

I don't think the sheer magnitude of what Nashville Singers had the opportunity to be a part of has truly set in yet, honestly.  The tragedy of the Titanic and the moving tribute to memorialize it and honor the memory of those lives lost and affected by it was overpowering, and I am humbled to have been able to be a participant. - Bryan Patrick 

Descendants of the passengers and crew that lost their lives
100 years ago.    

Being a part of the 100th Anniversary of the tragic sinking of the Titanic was an honor and a true privilege. I hope those family members present were comforted and pleased at the event, for it was all for the purpose of remembering that we were there. It's nice to not be forgotten! - Dr. Lenny Farmer   

The stage and the crowd anticipating a stirring performance    

A once in a lifetime opportunity to honor the memory of an event that is forever etched in world history - it was humbling to be asked to participate in this event! - Rodney Turner  

Todd Wilson with a young quartet from Cleveland, TN

It was a great honor to be one of three groups in the country to be invited to sing at this event. The best part to me was singing for the kids choir. They were so excited about a cappella music. There were several kids and a few adults who sang barbershop, and it was so cool to sing some tags with them!  - Ric Domenico 

During the sound check

It was an honor to participate in such an historic event. On top of that, to get to sing with such a great group of guys   in that venue was amazing. The road trip most of us made together was a blast too!!! - Tim Mullican

During the sound check

It was an amazing experience to share the 100 year anniversary of this tragedy with so many talented performers. - Mike Casper 

Singing in the green room with the kids

I had a sense of honor even though we had just a small part in a large memorial for the Titanic and those descendants of the passengers. - Doug Morrison

Editor's note: Kudos to Tim Mullican for making sure we had some great photos to help preserve the memory of this event. 

Lunch Break Confirmed for 2012
Nashville Singers Season of Harmony Concert 

Old McDonald Had a Deformed Farm - Lunch Break This video was shot at the Barbershop Harmony Society's International Quartet Contest in Kansas City last summer as they performed the mic tester (11th place) set before a crowd of 8,000.

Lunch Break was the guest quartet at last year's Nashville Singers Season of Harmony concert and blew the audience away with their highly entertaining combination of music and comedy.    

Mark your calendars! So more of you can experience this foursome in person, Lunch Break has been booked for an encore performance at our 2012 concert. The concert will be held at 7:00pm on November 17, 2012. Tickets go on sale on September 1st. 

Video of the Week   

Alive Inside - This video demonstrates the powerful impact of music.

New Music Evaluation Committee Formed    

Decisions about which songs to learn and perform are the most important decisions a performing arts organization can make. Nashville Singers operates with a 10-year strategic plan, and a music plan that looks five years into the future, and involves involves the introduction of 9-12 new songs each year. The Director of Music maintains final approval on song selection, but now has a committee of four other members to serve as a sounding board for new song suggestions. Elected by the membership last week, the members of this new committee include Todd Wilson - Director of Music, Sloan Yarborough - Associate Director, Ric Domenico - at large member, Bryan Patrick - at large member, and Taylor Wilson - at large member;  

Quote of the Week   

"Coming together is a beginning. Staying together is progress. Working together is success." - Henry Ford

This Day in Music   

April 16, 1964 - The Beatles filmed the "chase scenes" for A Hard Days Night with actors dressed as policemen in the Notting Hill Gate area of London. In the evening they recorded the title track for the film, 'A Hard Day's Night' at Abbey Road. John and Paul had the title first, and had to write a song to order, completing the track in nine takes. 

Revised Music Memorization Schedule     

By now, all new non-holiday music should be memorized. Here is the memorization timetable for the new 2012 holiday songs:

• Birthday of a King (April 12)
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas (April 19)
• Sleigh Ride (May 3)  
• Let It Snow (May 10)