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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 the
Nashville Singers News
You are subscribed to the official weekly publication of Nashville Singers, Inc., 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: supporter of music education, chorus member, music educator, donor, fan, in-kind sponsor, advisory board member, leader of another Middle Tennessee nonprofit organization, have attended one of our meetings or performances, have inquired about Nashville Singers via phone or email, have been identified as someone who enjoys SINGING.
If you do not desire further contact, please unsubscribe following the instructions at the bottom of this email. You can also modify your profile or change your preferred email address using this link.
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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 substantial 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 Carl Diebold
Sincera Media Solutions Dove Award-winning videographer
Suzi Moran
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 reside in Brentwood, Hermitage, LaVergne, Lebanon, Nashville, 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 and Grant Funders
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Sustaining Donors
Bruce and Kellye Cokeroft
Bryan Patrick
Individual Donors
Janet Koch Colonel Samuel Liburdi Ed and Tracey Luke Doug and Trish Morrison Tim and Amy Mullican Jonathan (Jay) Ress Lisa Black Schlossberg Brett and Brandrea Sweeney Gary Sinagra Dr. Jane Warren Darlene Williamson Harlan and Sandy Wilson Todd and Jennifer Wilson Sloan Yarborough Grant Funders  
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Todd Wilson
Executive Director
Ex Officio
Director of Music
Music Evaluation Committee
Webmaster
Newsletter Editor
 Doug Morrison
President/Board Chair  Lenny Farmer Vice-Chair
Board Secretary Celebration Coordinator
Tim Mullican Treasurer In-House Photographer Historian
Taylor Wilson Board Member At Large
Baritone Section Leader
Music Evaluation Committee
Visual Performance Coach
Mike Casper
Board Member At Large
Performance Scout
Venue Search Task Force 
Sloan Yarborough Associate Director Bass Section Leader
Music Evaluation Committee
Pitch Pipes
Annual Survey Administrator 
Bruce Cokeroft Membership Manager Manager of Auditions Tenor Section Leader Venue Search Task Force 
Bryan Patrick
Music Evaluation Committee Prime Minister of Fun & Mischief Interim Costume Manager 
Ric Domenico Music Evaluation Committee Learning Media Producer Lead Section Leader Music Engraver Music Librarian
 Harlan Wilson
Performance Coach
 Bob Allen
Venue Search Task Force  Michael Schwalbe
Venue Search Task Force 
Grace Thomson
Performance Coach Voice Teacher
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Advisory Board
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Nashville Singers is blessed to have some outstanding community, business, and association leaders serving as volunteers on our team
Sarah Beatty
Director of Events and Communications
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee
Dawn Davenport
Sports Anchor/Reporter
WKRN, News 2
Cheryl B. Davis
Director, Dickson and
Cheatham Divisions
Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity
Dr. Robert L. Elliott
Professor of Music and Department Head
Tennessee State University
Shane Fortner
Senior Sales Manager
Jason G. Franke
Assistant General Manager of Sales and Marketing
Nashville Sounds Baseball
Carrie Hobbs Guiden Executive Director
The Arc of Tennessee
Don Hart
Professional music arranger, composer, orchestrator
Laura Landress
Manager of Corporate Support
Nashville Public Radio
Emily Lansdell
Director of
Marketing & Admissions
Columbia Academy
Lynn D. McGill, CLU, ChFC
Financial Advisor
The McGill Financial Ensemble
Choir Director
Trinity United Methodist Church
Joann McIntire
Office Assistant IV
Neurology Department Vanderbilt University
Dr. Jeffrey T. Phillips
Director of Fine Arts
Hendersonville High School
President
Tennessee Music Education Association
Amanda Foster
VP of Development
Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce
Jane Schnelle
Executive Director
The Larry Keeton Theatre
Tom Ventress
President
Ventress Design Works
Jane Warren
Assoc. Professor of Music
Belmont University
Roger White
Trainer / Outside Sales
Dr. Gary Wilson
Director of Choral Activities
Ruth Woodall Associate Vice-President of Education and Workforce Development
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Current Repertoire |
REGULAR
Bad 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
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
The Lord's Prayer
Man in the Mirror
Star Spangled Banner
Tonight
HOLIDAY
Birthday of a King
It's the Most Wonderful
Time of the Year
Let It Snow
I Wonder What You're
Doing for Christmas Silent Night The Secret of Christmas We Wish You a Merry Christmas
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Philanthropy
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Music Makes a Difference
Grants Awarded
2012
Lakeview Design Center ($500) Oliver Middle School ($500) 2011
John Overton High School ($500) Educator of the Future
College Scholarships Awarded
2012
Michael Collins ($1000) McGavock High School |
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Nashville Singers Follow in the Footsteps of Taylor Swift!
Concert at Hendersonville High School on February 26!
 | | Taylor Swift playing her guitar as a high school sophomore in 2006 Sophomore Year at Hendersonville High School |
Nashville Singers will be presenting a a 45-minute performance in Sumner County at Hendersonville High School's Fine Arts Night on February 26. This event is open to the public.
Swift attended Hendersonville High School for two years before becoming a superstar and donated $75,000 to the school in 2009 to update the sound and lighting systems in the auditorium.
Nashville Singers was invited to participate in this monthly event by Hendersonville High School's Director of Fine Arts, Dr. Jeffrey Phillips. Dr. Phillips serves on the Nashville Singers advisory board and is also the President of the Tennessee Music Education Association.
For more information on HHS fine arts programs and activities, call the school at 615-824-6162 or check the school's website by clicking on this link: http://hhs.sumnerschools.org.
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Musical Funny
 C, E-flat, and G go into a bar. The bartender says, "Sorry, but we don't serve minors." So E-flat leaves, and C and G have an open fifth between them.
After a few drinks, the fifth is diminished, and G is out flat. F comes in and tries to augment the situation, but is not sharp enough. D comes in and heads for the bathroom, saying, "Excuse me; I'll just be a second." Then A comes in, but the bartender is not convinced that this relative of C is not a minor. Then the bartender notices B-flat hiding at the end of the bar and says, "Get out! You're the seventh minor I've found in this bar tonight."
E-flat comes back the next night in a three-piece suit with nicely shined shoes. The bartender says, "You're looking sharp tonight. Come on in, this could be a major development." Sure enough, E-flat soon takes off his suit and everything else, and is au natural.
Eventually C sobers up and realizes in horror that he's under a rest. C is brought to trial, found guilty of contributing to the diminution of a minor, and is sentenced to 10 years of D.S. without Coda at an upscale correctional facility.
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Video of the Week - The Four Tenors!
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Keepsake - Heather On The Hill
Kansai, Japan - May 31, 2009
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Keepsake is a barbershop quartet from Florida that won the 1992 International Quartet Championship of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Members of the quartet are Joe Connelly (lead), Tony Derosa (baritone), Don Barnick (bass), and Roger Ross (tenor).
Back in 2009, Keepsake had a tour of Japan scheduled. A month before the tour, uber-baritone Tony DeRosa was confronted with a work conflict that would prevent him from participating in the tour.
Who could possibly fill in on such short notice?
A call was placed to Nashville Singers bass singer, and ACOUSTIX tenor singer Todd Wilson to sing baritone! He learned 22 songs in four weeks. The quartet had one brief rehearsal before their first concert and the Japanese fans were elated.
This casual performance was captured by a fan of the quartet at an afterglow (cast party) in Kansai. Wilson is no stranger to that region, as he has performed with ACOUSTIX on two different tours of Japan in 2000 and 2003, covering seven different cities.
The very talented Bob Bohn, of the popular Easternaires quartet arranged this gorgeous song from the 1954 musical film "Brigadoon" starring Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse.
Explanation of the headline: Aside from gold medal tenor singer Roger Ross, Don Barnick won an international gold medal singing tenor many years ago with a quartet called the Grandma's Boys. Todd won his quartet gold medal singing tenor with ACOUSTIX. Not to be outdone, Joe Connelly (winner of four quartet gold medals - the most by any person in history) sang tenor on the tag!
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Quote of the Week 
I was born with music inside me. Music was one of my parts. Like my ribs, my kidneys, my liver, my heart. Like my blood. It was a force already within me when I arrived on the scene. It was a necessity for me-like food or water. -
Ray Charles
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This Day in Music
 | Ray Charles - What'd I Say
LIVE in Sao Paulo, Brazil 1963
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February 18, 1959 - Ray Charles recorded What'd I Say in New York City. The song had evolved in concert as a call-and-response between Charles and his female back-up singers. It became Charles' biggest hit to date, reaching No.1 on the R&B and No.6 on the pop charts.
Editor's Note: I don't usually include a video link with "This Day In Music" but this happens to be one of my favorite "feel good" songs of all time. Let me know if you feel the same way.
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February Board Meeting Highlights
The Nashville Singers have had a minimum attendance policy for quite some time. However the concert preparation period lacked adequate definition. The board met on February 11 and defined this concert preparation period.
Amended Minimum Attendance Policy
Members who have not attended a minimum of sixty-six percent (66%) of the regularly scheduled rehearsals and performances during the concert preparation period will NOT be eligible to perform in the upcoming concert regardless of the outcome of the music check. The concert preparation period is now defined as September 1st through the Thursday before Thanksgiving.
In addition, two new policies were approved:
Guest Participation Policy
Guests are welcome to attend weekly meetings and rehearse with the chorus from the first rehearsal in December through the last rehearsal in August. However, during the concert preparation period, guests will be invited to observe rehearsals. The concert preparation period is now defined as September 1st through the Thursday before Thanksgiving.
Member Pricing on Fundraising Items Policy
Member discount pricing is no longer available on products sold to raise funds for the Nashville Singers, effective February 12, 2013.
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February 21 Meeting Agenda
At our next rehearsal, we need to be off the music on these songs:
When She Loved Me
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
SECTION I
(in chairs, guests are welcome to join us)
7:00pm - tag time
7:10pm - warm-up
SECTION II (new music)
(in chairs, guests are welcome to join us)
7:20pm - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
7:30pm - Away in a Manger
7:40pm - Christmastime Is Here
7:50pm - I Then Shall Live
8:00pm - O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
8:10pm - When She Loved Me
8:25pm - Were You There (March 28 performance)
SECTION III
8:35pm - break
8:50pm - announcements
SECTION IV (Prep for Hendersonville High School Fine Arts Night
(on risers, guests and new 2013 members are invited to observe)
9:00pm - Tonight
9:05pm - Happy Together
intro Taylor
9:10pm - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
9:15pm - Blew By You
intro Lenny
9:20pm - When She Loved Me
intro Taylor
9:25pm - Man in the Mirror
member intros or qt song
intro Harlan
9:30pm - Bring Him Home
9:35pm - Bad Day
9:40pm - Beyond the Sea
intro Lenny
9:45pm - Over the Rainbow
intro Tim
9:50pm - How High the Moon
Mission/thank yous (Todd)
9:55pm - Lion Sleeps Tonight
9:59pm - closing song
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Updated - Music Memorization Schedule
Members should be off their music on these new songs by the following dates:
 February 21 - O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
March 7 - I Then Shall Live
March 14 - Believe
March 21 - Away in a Manger
April 4 - Christmastime Is Here
April 11 - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Note: After the memorization deadline has passed for any given song, any member may be asked to perform that song in a quartet, quintet, or septet.
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Mark Your Calendar - March 23, 2013
For a third consecutive year, Nashville Singers is offering FREE SINGING LESSONS to aspiring singers in Middle Tennessee. This program is open to male and female singers young and old, from teenagers to senior citizens. Last year's program attracted 27 participants from across Tennessee and as far away as Ohio. These lessons are full of valuable and creative opportunities for skill, talent and knowledge growth. The clinicians are excellent. The content is rich and exciting. You'll receive a combination of technical and artistic vocal training, covering the following areas:
- Breathing-posture, breath support and control for singing freely produced tones
- Resonance-tone placement, emotional color and blend
- Vowels - target sounds, diction and diphthongs
- Rhythm - creating precise synchronization
- Dynamics - use of soft/loud ranges to create meaning and artistic joy
- Artistry - something magical that can happen when notes and words become second nature
THE BEST PART... You're invited to join Nashville Singers that afternoon at 4:00pm when we present a free mini-concert for your friends and family. You'll be able to join us on stage to sing the songs we've learned together, and hear the public debut of a few of our new songs for 2013. EDUCATIONAL SCHEDULE 8:30am to 9:00am - Registration, group assignments 9:00pm to 10:15am - Section One
10:15am to 10:30am - Break
10:30pm - 12:00pm - Section Two
12:00pm to 12:45pm - Lunch
12:45pm to 2:15pm - Section Three
2:15pm to 2:30pm - Break
2:30pm to 3:30pm - Section Four
3:30pm to 3:50pm - Instructors available for one on one questions
3:50pm to 4:00pm - Break
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE4:00pm to 5:00pm - Free mini concert upstairs in the sanctuary, to include the two songs learned earlier in the day, as well as some new songs from the Nashville Singers;
LOCATION Whitworth Memorial
Baptist Church
3014 Elm Hill Pike Nashville, TN 37214 REGISTER TODAY! You may register online by clicking on the logo shown above, or by calling 615-852-SING (7464). |
Attention Music Educators! 
Applications are now being accepted for the Nashville Singers 2013 Music Makes a Difference Music Education Grant Program.
This funding is available for school music programs or nonprofit organizations in Middle Tennessee whose mission is focused on music education.
We have received only one application so far, so your odds of qualifying for this funding are HIGH!
Completed applications must be received by March 31, 2013!
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Attention Music Students! 
Applications are now being accepted for the Nashville Singers 2013 Educator of the Future College Scholarship.
This funding is available for Middle Tennessee high school seniors pursuing a music education degree or a former Educator of the Future scholarship winner.
We have received only one application so far, so your odds of qualifying for this funding are HIGH!
Completed applications must be received by March 31, 2013!
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Save These Dates!
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OPEN REHEARSAL
March 7, 2013
7:00pm to 10:00pm
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OPEN REHEARSAL
March 21, 2013
7:00pm to 10:00pm
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To increase awareness of our music, events, community outreach activities, music education and philanthropic programs, Nashville Singers will be hosting a number of "open rehearsals" at college campuses across Middle Tennessee in 2013. Whether you are are interested in getting up on the risers and SINGING a song or two with us, or simply want to watch and listen, guests are welcome. You do not have to be a college student to attend these "open rehearsals." For more information, click on the university logos shown above.More "open rehearsals" are in the works for 2013. If you would like to host one of these events at your high school, college or university in Middle Tennessee, please contact Executive Director Todd Wilson by calling 615-852-SING (7464) or via email. |
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Upcoming Schedule
February 21 - (Thu) Next Rehearsal (7:00pm to 10:00pm)
February 26 - (Tue) Fine Arts Night at Hendersonville High School - open to the public (6:00pm) chorus call 5:30pm, uniform - black Haggar slacks, black long-sleeve NSI shirt, black belt, black socks, black shoes, and gold tie;
February 28 - (Thu) Advisory Board Dinner (6:30pm to 9:00pm, Location TBD)
March 7 - (Thu) Open rehearsal at Tennessee State University - GUESTS WELCOME (7:00pm to 10:00pm)
SPRING
March 21 - (Thu) Open rehearsal at Lipscomb University - GUESTS WELCOME (7:00pm to 10:00pm)
March 23 - (Sat) Acappella Academy free singing lessons program (8:30am to 3:30pm) Whitworth Memorial Baptist Church
March 23 - (Sat) Acappella Academy free mini-concert at Whitworth Memorial Baptist Church in the sanctuary (4:30pm to 5:30pm)
April 4 - (Thu) Performance at concert produced by Antioch High School choral department, followed by an abbreviated rehearsal at Antioch High School. (Details TBA)
May 18 - (Sat) Tentative performance for the Gospel Believers Conference. (Details TBA)
SUMMER
July 2 - (Tue) Rehearsal on a different night
July 4 - (Thu) Independence Day (no rehearsal)
July 15 - Advisory Board Teleconference (7:00pm to 8:30pm)
August 17 - (Sat) Photo session for new Christmas CD
FALL
September 7 - (Sat) Recording session for new Christmas CD)
September 26 - (Thu) Advisory Board Dinner (6:30pm to 9:00pm)
(Location TBD)
November 16 - (Sat) Possible concert in Oak Ridge, TN (T)
November 23 - Season of Harmony Concert - (7:00pm)
(Location TBA)
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Please Support
Nashville Singers
Music Education Programs (PSA)
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Download our Programs Brochure
Nashville Singers is recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)3 non-profit organization registered in the state of Tennessee. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. All solicitations are intended for Tennessee residents and help us impact the lives of other by perpetuating mission-critical outreach and music education programs. If you reside outside of Tennessee, please contact us BEFORE making a donation.
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Todd Wilson
Executive Director
The Nashville Singers, Inc.
615-852-SING (7464) office
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 615-852-SING (7464) 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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