Newsletter Sept 2009

Pat’s Letter

It’s hard to believe that summer is almost over and it’s time to start thinking about all our fall activities. I hope you have had a good summer. Your Board met at my house on June 8^th, and I think it was a very productive meeting. A lot of our new officers have been busy throughout the summer making plans for this next year. Sandra has been collecting dues. I hope everyone has gotten her money to Sandra so you can be listed in the yearbook. Pat Suitt and her committee have come up with some great ideas for programs. I thank all the people who agreed to host a meeting this year. We hope that we will have good attendance at our meetings—bring a friend who might enjoy our musical programs.

Susan Poelchau has done an excellent job of getting the Library Concert Series completely booked for the year. She will need our support in serving as Announcers.

As for me, I’m looking forward to a very special year working with all of you. Having reached both “Diamond” and “Emeritus” status, I hope I can use those years of experience to lead the organization in a worthy manner. Our theme for the year is: “Mu Phi for Life.” I hope we will all strive for that goal.

Our first meeting will be September 19^th, with Mary Williams hosting us in her Club House at 11:00 a.m. Bring a salad or dessert – and maybe a friend! As we’ve sung many times: “With Music, Friends and Harmony our lives are filled with power, as Music sends on our paths and brightens every hour.”

Sincerely,

Pat Hill

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Past meetings

Tena Hehn and Jenny Smith Tena Hehn and Cynthia Wadley

Pat Hill hosted the April meeting, assisted by Phyllis Wilson, Mary Williams and Karen Glosserman. Jenny Smith played trumpet with Tena Hehn accompanying on piano; she played Movements 1 and 2 of Haydn Trumpet Concerto. Tena Hehn played piano versions of opera arias by Puccini – “Visi D’Arte” from Tosca, “Il Suave von chulo” from La Boheme, and “O Mio Bambino Caro” from Gianni Schicci. Cynthia Wadley presented an interesting history of the life of Mozart.

The May luncheon was held at the home of Sylvia Taylor Lerch, with co-hosts Melanie Priest and Sharon Kraus. Performing were Susan Poelchau, Priscilla Long, Meghan Gomen, Frances Estes and Katie Freiberger.

Many thanks to our officers including outgoing President Mary Ann Taylor (right).

These new officers were installed:
President: Pat Hill (left)
VP (membership): Jenny Smith
Treasurer: Sandra McMillen
Secretary: Susan Poelchau
Chorister (programs): Mary Ann Taylor (Team

leader), with Tena Hehn, Phyllis Wilson, Pat

Suitt and Judy Dardaganian
Chaplain: Melanie Priest
Steward: Cynthia Wadley
Historian: Edie Pfautsch
These people have agreed to continue in appointed positions:
Concert series: Susan Poelchau
Newsletter/Webmaster: Mary Williams

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Chapter News

DUES ARE DUE NOW!

To date, 18 members and two patrons have paid chapter dues.

Treasurer Sandra McMillen must forward dues to International before September 15th. It is very important that chapter members forward dues to her no later than September 4th so that she can prepare the paperwork that goes along with the dues check. If you haven’t sent your dues to Sandra, please do so now. Mary Williams is preparing the yearbook for the October meeting, and those who have not paid dues will be considered inactive. Please send your dues to Sandra McMillen. Dues amounts are listed in your yearbook, or contact Sandra for information.

Members

We are sad to lose these members: Chris Brunt is not rejoining due to commitments that prevent him from attending meetings. Priscilla Long has moved to Dripping Springs and Ruth Reed has moved to Houston. June Tighe passed away this past May (see obituary below); we will miss her.

If you know Mu Phis among your friends and acquaintances, please bring them to a meeting and introduce them to our chapter. Please welcome these newcomers and make them feel at home.

Sandra McMillen

As Collegiate Advisor, Sandra McMillen attended the Mu Phi Epsilon International Board meeting in August at Virginia Beach, VA. The parents of 4th VP, Jeff Zeider, own a beautiful home there that they opened for the Board meeting. Sandra and husband Phil (who is a patron) enjoyed the Zeider's hospitality. Chapter and Individual Award winners were selected along with a discussion of fraternity business. Reports of the Fraternity success will be presented in the Annual Report. Be sure to read the Fall issue of The Triangle which will include a list of winners.

Newsletter/Website

Send your editor/webmaster (Mary Williams) items you would like to share: txtravel@flash.net. Your addresses or phone numbers are never posted on our website - so hang on to your newsletter and your yearbook for that private meeting information.

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Meeting Schedule

Our new Chorister/Program committee has come up with hosts, locations, co-hosts and programs for our new year. Three are on Saturday, one on Monday, and two on Tuesday. Please mark your calendars now so that you can attend as many as possible. Bring a Mu Phi friend!

Saturday, 9/19 - 11:00 am

Fall Welcome
Host: Mary Williams
At Chimneyhill Clubhouse
9223 Emberglow, Dallas
Co-hosts: Phyllis Wilson, Melanie

Priest, Claudia Jameson
Program: Fall Welcome
• Jennifer Carpenter, recorder
• Susan and Harold Poelchau and

   Friends Recorder Ensemble
• Les Amis Chamber Ensemble
   Sonata Op. 37 no. 2 by Joseph Bodin de Boismortier
   Frances Estes, oboe; Gretchen Nichols, cello; Pat Suitt, keyboard
• Please bring a dish to share for lunch

Tuesday, 10/13 - 7:30 pm
Celebration of Haydn and Mendelssohn

Host: Pat Suitt

Co-hosts: Mary Ann Taylor, Karen Glosserman, Cynthia Wadley

Program: A Celebration of Haydn and Mendelssohn
• Biography of Franz Joseph Haydn
• Adagio e cantabile (Hob. 16:49) by Haydn
Sylvia Taylor Lerch
• Trio in d minor Op. 49 by Mendelssohn
Linda Proch, violin; Gretchen Nichols, cello; Pat Suitt, piano

Tuesday, 11/10 - 7:30 pm
Play a Song

Host: Sylvia Taylor Lerch

Co-hosts: Susan Poelchau, Sandra McMillen, Frances Estes

Program: Play a Song

• Biography of Mendelssohn - Zelda Hantz
• Songs Without Words by Mendelssohn played by:
Op. 19 no. 1 - Sylvia Taylor Lerch

   Op. 19 no. 3 - Sylvia Taylor Lerch
   Op. 19 no. 4 - Tena Hehn
   Op. 19 no. 6 - Susan Poelchau
   Op. 30 no. 6 - Susan Poelchau
   Op. 38 no. 2 - Mary Beth Johnson
   Op. 53 no. 4 - Pat Hill
   Op. 67 no. 4 - Pat Suitt
   Op. 85 no. 2 - Zelda Hantz

Op. 109 in D Major - Janice Winchell, cello and Pat Suitt

Monday, 2/15 - 7:00 pm
Joint meeting with SAI and Mu Phi

Location: Steinway Hall - west side of N Central Expwy at McCommas

Host: SAI

SAI Performers TBA
Mu Phi Performers:
• Melanie Priest, solo handbells
• Sue Tate, piano (SAI accompanying Melanie)
• Katherine Freiberger, composer and pianist

Saturday, 4/10 - 11:00 am

Celebrating Collegiates
Host: Martha Peak
Co-hosts: Phyllis Wilson, Ellen Stamelos, Jenny Smith
Program: Celebrating Collegiates
• Collegiates from SMU, Tarleton, NTSU, TCU
• Jenny Smith, trumpet
• Tena Hehn, piano

Saturday, 5/15 - 11:00 am
Old and New: Installation of Officers
Host: Pat Hill
Co-hosts: Sharon Kraus, Sadie Rowe, Judy Dardaganian
Program: The Old and New
• Six Antiques Epigraphs by Debussy
Susan Poelchau and Pat Suitt, piano
• Installation of Officers
• Potluck luncheon: Everyone please bring a lunch dish

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Member News

Jenny Smith’s musical e-mail address is: jenny.musicalscientist@gmail.com

Bea Carney has a new email: carneyearls@cox.net

Mu Phis have been traveling again. During May/June Mary Williams went hiking in Croatia, attended a Friendship Force exchange in Romania, and visited friends in Budapest, Austria and Germany. In August she drove to California for a Friendship Force exchange in Sacramento, stopping to see friends in Colorado, followed by a trip with her two sisters to northern California and southern Oregon and visits to the California coast, King’s Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns National Parks.

Susan Poelchau, with geologist husband Harald, traveled to Germany this summer to visit family and friends. They also are in the midst of an interesting trip through the western United States, visiting wonderful geological sites on the way to visit friends in Oregon, then down the West Coast to a scientific conference in Palo Alto, CA. As of early September they are wending their way slowly back to Golden, Colorado to await the birth of their first grandchild! Congratulations!

Tena Hehn commented on her recent trip to Italy. Italy was hot, but wow! So many centuries of splendor and achievements - those Romans had a lot going for them! The Pope certainly has a nice place in which to live and work! Italy is an amazing country - really had a great time exploring Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany and Venice.

Phyllis Wilson drove to Alaska on a 6 week trip. More about that in the next newsletter.

Sandra McMillen and husband Phil traveled to the West Texas '60's Band Members Reunion in Canyon, TX. In addition to visiting with friends and sharing old marching films, memories, and photos, Sandra was able to tour the new Fine Arts Complex which opened on the WT Campus this past fall. The university also has a new pedestrian mall and bell tower adjacent to the new complex.

Sandra is also excited to learn that the Alpha Nu chapter of MPE has reactivated and has 15 new candidates!!! Sandra & Phil also attended Phil's 50th HS Reunion in the small town of Amherst, TX (halfway between Lubbock & Clovis, NM). Amherst puts on a terrific All-School Reunion every summer complete with a parade with floats (flat bed farm trailers). The music in the park was great and there was dancing on the tennis courts in the evening.

June Brown Tighe passed away on May 3rd, 2009. Born on May 30th, 1925 to Rodgers Porter Brown and Minnie Idalia McDade in Dallas, Texas. The McDade family helped establish the town of Hempstead, Texas in 1858. June’s grandfather was a Dallas civil engineer who helped lay out the original plat of Oak Cliff and was one of the original founders of Southern Methodist University. June grew up in Dallas Oak Cliff and University Park. She received her Bachelors in Music in 1946 and Masters in Music in 1948 from Southern Methodist University. June studied with Dr. Pau van Katwijk at SMU and Madame Olga Samaroff Stokowski at Julliard School of Music. After college Miss June Brown married Edward March Tighe on December 9th, 1952 in Dallas. June taught individual lessons at SMU, the Dallas ISD and in her home from 1946 till the summer of 2008. She was a member of the Van Katwijk club, Mu Phi Epsilon, Dallas Music Teachers Association, and Parnassus book review club. June was proceeded in death by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her brother Rodgers Brown of Beaumont, Texas, son and daughter-in-law James and Brenda Tighe and several nieces and nephews throughout Texas. She will be remembered for her love of classical music, teaching her many students, animals, loyalty to Texas and a kindness to all that she came in contact with. Visitation will be Thursday, May 7th, from 6-9 pm at Ted Dickey West funeral Home. The funeral service will be on Friday, May 8th at 10 am at the same location.

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Musical Opportunities

On our website under Musical Events, find events and opportunities in Dallas.

See the musical communities represented by CAN – Cooperative Arts News http://www.CANotice.org. Our Concert Series is listed and reminder e-mails go to arts-minded people in the metroplex. Use it to see season schedules of your favorite arts groups.

Also see the Highland Park United Methodist Church concert series schedule, with Chris Brunt, organist. (Your webmaster is happy to add any other musical events you know of.)

The Irving Symphony is looking for volunteers. April Harrington says: “We are rolling out a new volunteer initiative that I think the members of your chapter will really enjoy. Not only are individuals able to earn discounted or free tickets and recognition, but if five or more members of Mu Phi Epsilon volunteer together for a special event, we will provide valuable public acknowledgement of your organization for their service!” The Irving Symphony Orchestra will be devoting this season to the interdisciplinary staging of symphonic works and is also producing an annual FREE “Concerts 4 Kids” designed to engage, educate, and inspire every 5th and 7th grade student in the Irving ISD, approximately 5,700 students.
To learn more about the ISO, its education programs and signature musical experiences, see their website at www.irvingsymphony.com. Contact April at april@irvingsymphony.com or at 972-831-8818 to volunteer.

North Texas Music meetings provide an opportunity for area musicians and music organizations to cooperate, communicate, and share resources. The next meeting will be the morning of Monday, September 14 at the downtown library. Guest speakers will discuss two timely topics:
1. Marketing and promotion of music organizations and programs
2. Managing organizations in difficult times, particularly making decisions about mergers or closings.
Specifics on speakers, scheduling and registration information are available from Tina Murdock, Music Librarian, Dallas Public Library, Fine Arts Division: tina.murdock@dallaslibrary.org

Have an unused instrument? Sandra McMillen learned that the student violin that she gave to the Midway ISD (Waco) Strings Program was used by an elementary student who would not have been able to participate without the donation. The half-size violin had not been played for over 40 years when Sandra had it repaired with new strings, new bow and case. She loaned the instruments to a student in DeSoto for two years and then passed it on to Midway ISD. The director of the Midway Strings Program is Blair Williams, chapter advisor of the Baylor University chapter. Do you have an instruments sitting in a closet which could be donated to a music program and make the difference in the life of a child?

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