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Supporting music education in our schools and the community
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Dear ,
We hope you enjoy this week's issue of
Nashville Singers News
the official weekly publication of Music City's newest men's chorus. Nashville Singers, Inc. is a Tennessee 501(C)3 non-profit, performing arts organization. We celebrate the power of the human voice to entertain, educate, unite, uplift, enrich, and inspire, by performing an ever-widening repertoire of choral music at the highest artistic level for a broad community of audiences.
You are receiving this email because you likely fall into one of these categories:
- chorus member
- music educator
- donor
- fan of the chorus
- sponsor
- advisory board member
- you have attended one of our meetings or performances
- you have inquired about Nashville Singers via phone or email
- you have been identified as someone who enjoys SINGING
If you do not desire further contact, please unsubscribe following the instructions below.
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Mission & Vision
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Organizational Mission
The mission of Nashville Singers is to entertain, educate, unite and uplift our audiences and members through music that is distinguished for its innovation, diversity and artistic excellence.
Philanthropic Mission The philanthropic mission of Nashville Singers is to provide resources and support for music education in our schools and the community.
Leadership MissionThe leadership mission of Nashville Singers is to seek, develop, use and enhance the skills and talents of each member to such an extent that progress seems limitless. Vision The vision of Nashville Singers is to be a dynamic choral leader, enriching lives through the performance of significant music; collaborating with highly engaged, skilled donors to make a substantive impact on music education in our schools and the community.
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Nashville Singers
In-Kind Sponsors
Ambassador Formalwear
1714 North Gallatin Road
Madison, TN 37115
(Rivergate)
615.865.4640
1200 17th Ave S
Nashville 37212
615.320.3900
Carl Diebold
Sincera Media Solutions
Dove Award-winning videographer
Suzi Moran
Trade Show Exhibit Booth
Grace Thomson
Private Voice Instruction
Performance Coaching
For more information about becoming an in-kind sponsor of Nashville Singers, please click HERE to review a list of our current needs.
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| About Us |
Nashville Singers, Inc. is a 501(C)3 non-profit corporation and performing arts organization founded in 2008.
The members range in age from teenagers to retirees and reside in Brentwood, Hermitage, LaVergne, Lebanon, Nashville, Joelton, and Smyrna.
The group meets at Whitworth Memorial Baptist Church the first three Thursday evenings of each month from 7-10pm. Membership in Nashville Singers is open to all men who demonstrate the ability, desire, and a commitment to excellence in vocal and choral performance.
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We Are Grateful for the Support from our Donors |
SUSTAINING DONORSBruce and Kellye Cokeroft Ed and Tracey Luke Bryan Patrick INDIVIDUAL DONORS Brett and Brandrea Sweeney
Dr. Jane Warren Darlene Williamson
Harlan and Sandy Wilson
Gary Sinagra
Lisa Black Schlossberg
Janet Koch |
2012 Leadership
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Todd Wilson
Executive Director
Director of Music
Webmaster
Newsletter Editor
Sloan YarboroughPresident/Board Chair
Assistant Director Bass Section Leader
Annual Survey Administrator Doug Morrison
Vice-Chair
Baritone Section Leader 
Bryan Patrick
Board Secretary
Costume Manager
 Ed LukeTreasurer
Sergeant at Arms
Bruce CokeroftVP of Membership Development Manager of Auditions Tenor Section Leader 
Tim MullicanBoard Member At Large In-House Photographer Historian 2011 STAFF
Ric DomenicoLearning Media Producer Lead Section Leader Music Engraver Music Librarian
Taylor WilsonVisual Performance Coach  Harlan Wilson
Performance Coach  Paul Genty
Culinary Coordinator
 Rodney Turner Prime Minister of
Fun and Mischief 
Lenny Farmer Sunshine Chairman 
Grace Thomson
Performance Coach Voice Teacher |
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2012 Advisory Board
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The Nashville Singers, Inc. is blessed to have some outstanding community business and association leaders joining our team in 2012:
Craig Adams
Manager of Creative Development & Publishing,
Lifeway Worship
Sarah Beatty
Manager of Marketing Development
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee
Tiffany Davis
Executive Director, International Entertainment Buyers Association
Don Hart
Professional music arranger, composer, orchestrator
Joyce Lavery
Executive Director,
Safe Haven Family Shelter
Tom Ventress
President
Ventress Design Works
Jane Warren
Assoc. Professor of Music
Belmont University
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Current Repertoire |
REGULARBad Day
Beyond the Sea
Blew by You
Bring Him Home
Danny Boy
Happy Together
How High the Moon
My Lord and I
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Over the Rainbow
Shenandoah
The Lion Sleeps Tonight The Lord's Prayer
Man in the MirrorSatin Doll
Star Spangled Banner
Tonight
HOLIDAY Christmas Stays the Same
Coventry Carol
Do You Hear What I Hear
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
I Wonder What You're Doing for Christmas
Lo, How A Rose 'Er BloomingSilent Night The Secret of Christmas
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Final Performance of The Suntones
in Cleveland, TN on May 19th!
After a performing career that has spanned over five decades, the SUNTONES have announced their final concert appearance will take place on May 19, at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. The concert will feature two other international championship quartets, Vocal Spectrum and Four Voices.
At the Barbershop Quartet's Society's International Competition in Philadelphia, the 1961 favorites for the gold medals where the Nighthawks and The Town and Country Four. By the semi-finals, the SUNTONES had the audience on their side. Call it luck, destiny or a little of both, the SUNTONES were picked to sing last in the top ten final round of competition Saturday night. They began that night by singing the beautiful Mighty Lak A Rose. The entire convention audience stood up. The cheers and applause seemed to go on forever. The quartet was a bit surprised. This was the first standing ovation received by a competitor in the history of the Society. As if it were fate, they ended the contest with a song that would become a trademark, Bye Bye Blues. The SUNTONES later discovered that they had racked up a 350 point winning margin. Some suggested even if they hadn't sung in the finals, they would have had enough points to win anyway.
As with all International Champion Quartets, they were crowned, celebrated, cheered, and treated like celebrities and sent home. Here is where many gold medalist quartets begin to slowly but surely disappear.
For the SUNTONES, it was only the beginning. After the championship year, the SUNTONES decided they might as well do this thing right. They began to set new standards and became innovators. The quartet decided to produce recordings as often as possible and sought professional bookings outside of barbershop circles. Their heavy schedule forced them to improve and perfect their presentation. It was hard work that paid off.
Soon the SUNTONES could be found singing at New York's Plaza Hotel on the same bill as Benny Goodman. When Jackie Gleason moved his popular variety show to Miami, he needed a barbershop quartet, the members of which could also serve as backup singers. The SUNTONES appeared with Gleason, Danny Thomas, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Mike Douglas and other well known stars such as Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Eddie Arnold, The Four Freshmen and even President Gerald R. Ford.
In addition to performing well, the SUNTONES set themselves apart by introducing new songs into their performances and by creating a library of recordings not yet matched in size by any other barbershop quartet.
The SUNTONES were ahead of their time, innovators in almost every field of quartetting. They were known for their Broadway show music, their sound system, (they carried their own and performed with individual hand held microphones), proactive management and an extensive library of recordings. With the release of their "Complete Works" five-CD, double album set, and the 2003 release of a new a new "Suntones LIVE" CD recorded in 1972, a new generation was able to re-discovere one of the all-time great quartets of the 20th Century. In 2005, the SUNTONES joined the Buffalo Bills as one of only two quartets to be inducted into the Barbershop Harmony Society's "Hall of Fame."
The current configuration of the SUNTONES has three of the original gold medal winners, Gene Cokeroft singing tenor, Bob Franklin on the lead part, Harlan Wilson, handling the baritone spot, along with Harlan's son Todd singing bass. Sadly, Bill Cain lost his battle with cancer in 2004. Todd has been singing the low notes since 1999.
For ticket information, visit www.soundoftn.org. For more information about the Suntones, visit them online at www.thesuntones.com or "LIKE" them on Facebook.
Historical info courtesy of Grady Kerr, Barbershop Harmony Society historian |
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CD Release Event at FiftyForward Today!
FiftyForward
Music for Seniors launches its first album release, "Songs We All Love," featuring many of the artists and groups who regularly work with the program. The album's release date is Monday, May 7, celebrated with a concert kick-off by many of the musicians who perform on the album, including the Nashville Singers. The FREE concert event will take place at FiftyForward Knowles, 174 Rains Avenue (in the Tennessee State Fairgrounds) at NOON. An optional lunch may be purchased at $3 (for FiftyForward members), or $5 (for non-members).
New song lineup: Tonight, Happy Together, Blew by You, Beyond the Sea, Satin Doll, How High the Moon, Lion Sleeps Tonight
Copies of the album will be available for purchase at the concert, or can be obtained by calling 742-4691 or visiting www.musicforseniors.org. The Nashville Singers appear on the album with a beautiful rendition of Home on The Range. If you are a Nashville Singers fan, you won't want to miss having this CD in your collection! --- Sarah Martin McConnell, Director, FiftyForward Music for Seniors
For concert and/or lunch reservations, please email Deb Stillwell or call 743-3400.
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Nashville Singers 2011 Annual Report
Now Available for Download!
 We use our Annual Reports to review the work we have done over the past year and define the rationale behind our programming decisions. It includes messages from the President/Board Chair and Executive Director, showcases highlights and challenges, and recognizes key staff and volunteers. You can download your copy HERE.
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Highlights from Member Satisfaction Survey
 A member satisfaction survey was recently completed with 92% of the members participating. The complete results are too large to publish in the newsletter, but some of the highlights are included below:
- 100% of members feel welcome in Nashville Singers
- 100% of members enjoy weekly meetings
- 100% of members feel the cost of annual dues is reasonable
- 100% of members feel the cost of other chorus related expenses (outside of dues or uniforms) is reasonable
- 92% of members are pleased with the level of communication
- 83% of members feel like meetings would improve if members learned their music more quickly
- 67% of members are satisfied with their participation in Nashville Singers activities
- 58% of members volunteered to handle administrative tasks or duties
- 50% of members view their membership in Nashville Singers as the highlight of their choral singing experience
- 50% of members feel the number of new songs rolled out each year is just right
- 42% of members took on administrative tasks because they were asked
- 42% of members want to learn more new songs per year
- 33% of members are very satisfied with their participation in Nashville Singers activities
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Video of the Week
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Charles Hazlewood: Trusting the ensemble
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Quote of the Week
One hundred years from now...
it will not matter what kind of house you lived in... what kind of car you drove... what your bank balance was...
but what will matter is that you were important in the life of a child. -- Adapted from a quote by Forest Witcraft
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 | Please Support
Nashville Singers
Music Education Programs (PSA) |
Download our Programs Brochure
Nashville Singers is recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Donations help impact the lives of other by perpetuating mission-critical outreach and music education programs.Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
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Be Part of the Applause!
We need your help! There are a variety of ways that you can help us achieve our mission. Volunteers are an integral part of Nashville Singers, and play a key role in almost every aspect of chorus operations. People of all ages and backgrounds are needed and welcome. You can contribute your time, talent, and service in many ways, including:
- ushers for concerts
- special events
- social activities
- concert production
- public relations & marketing
- fundraising and development
- general assistance/office
- advisory board
Some jobs take a couple of hours each week, and others a couple of hours a month. Some have specific deadlines and others are ongoing. We'll find the job to match your skills and the time you have to give.
Nashville Singers needs you! Even if you can't, don't, or won't sing, there's a place for you in the organization. Please visit the volunteer page of our website for more information. Call 615-669-8633 or email us, and at the next concert the applause will be for you too!
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This Day in Music
May 7, 1966 - The Mamas and the Papas started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Monday Monday', it made No.3 in the UK. The group was reported, as saying they all hated the song except for its writer John Phillips.
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Agenda for May 10 Meeting
(Subject to change)
7:00pm - Tag time
7:10pm - Warmup
7:20pm - Bring Him Home
7:30pm - Beyond the Sea
7:40pm - The Lord Bless You and Keep You
8:00pm - My Lord and I
8:10pm - Quartet (First Day in Heaven)
8:15pm - Quartet (Great Getting' Up Mornin')
8:20pm - Business
8:35pm - Break
8:50pm - Sectionals (Let It Snow)
9:20pm - Let It Snow
9:30pm - Sleigh Ride
9:40pm - We Wish You a Merry Christmas
9:50pm - Birthday of a King
9:59pm - closing song |
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Are You Contributing or Detracting?
The potential for artistry and magic exists only when worrying about notes and words is a thing of the past. By now, eight of the nine new songs introduced in 2012 should be memorized. Let It Snow must be memorized by May 10th.
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SPRING 2012
May 7 - Lunchtime performance at FiftyForward on Rains Avenue to celebrate the release of the new compilation CD, featuring Nashville Singers. Chorus call 11:30am. 15-minute performance starting at noon. We will be wearing the casual uniform with the black blazer.
May 7 - Board meeting at Bryan's place in Madison (7pm)
May 10 - Next rehearsal
May 19 - Road trip to Cleveland, TN to enjoy the concert featuring the Suntones, Vocal Spectrum, and Four Voices. May 31 - (T) Corporate (private) booking at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. Chorus call 7:15pm, begin our performance anywhere between 8:00 and 8:30pm / Songs to be performed: TBD / Costuming: More than likely, our dress uniform / Stay tuned for other details as they become available.
July 12 - Performance at Tennessee Arts Academy, Massey Hall at Belmont University - 10:00am sound check for those that can make it, chorus call at 11:00am, performance at 11:30am; Attire: Dress uniform, String pants, white long-sleeve button down shirt, long red tie, black blazer, belt, socks and shoes;
July 23 - Board of Directors Teleconference with Advisory Board - 7:00pm to 8:30pm
August 19 - Nashville Singers quartet (Bruce, Mike, Ric, and Rodney) performance in the morning. Details will be posted as they become known.
August 25 - Recording session #1 for new Christmas CD, Extra rehearsal/PVI (private voice instruction) for every singer, provided by Grace Thomson, 9am to 4pm (location TBD)
FALL 2012 September 8 - (NEW) Recording session #2 for new Christmas CD, photo session, 9am to 4pm (location TBD)
September 22 - (NEW) Recording session #3 for new Christmas CD, extra rehearsal/coaching session, 9am to 4pm (location TBD)
September 27 - Board of Directors Dinner Meeting with Advisory Board 7:00pm to 9:30pm (Nero's Grill)
September 30 - (T) Artober Kick-off performance in Donelson (location TBD) (2:00pm-4:00pm)
October 6 - National anthem performance at the Hike for the Homeless event, presented by Safe Haven Family Shelter October 19 - Encore performance at the Franklin Wine Festival, benefiting Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee
November 17 - Season of Harmony annual fall/holiday concert, concert at 7:00pm, cast party at 9:30pm, (Location TBA)
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If you believe in our mission, please consider forwarding this newsletter to a friend.
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You are receiving this email because you likely fall into one of these categories:
- chorus member
- music educator
- donor
- fan of the chorus
- sponsor
- advisory board member
- you have attended one of our meetings or performances
- you have inquired about Nashville Singers via phone or email
- you have been identified as someone who enjoys SINGING
If you do not desire further contact, please unsubscribe following the instructions below.
Todd Wilson
Nashville Singers
Executive Director
615-669-TODD (8633) cell
615-523-TODD (8633) fax
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The Nashville Singers, Inc. is a Tennessee chartered corporation and recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Donations are tax -deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. For more information, visit our website or contact Executive Director, Todd Wilson by phone at 615-669-8633 or via email at todd@nashvillesingers.org
Nashville Singers and Nashvillesingers.org are registered and protected service marks (SM) of Nashville Singers, Inc.
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