Men of Song Chorus – Leadership Institute 2013
The numbers continue to grow, the music becomes more ambitious, and each Sinfonian event seems to have more and better music than the one before it. With a record 40 brothers, the 2013 Men of Song Chorus performed at last summer’s Leadership Institute under the direction of Brian Stratton, Delta Omega (Southeastern Louisiana) ’79, Alpha Alpha (National Honorary) 2010, and Rusty Shields, Omega Omicron (Arkansas State) ’03. The performers, hailing from across the country and having varied musical backgrounds, put together a moving concert with only days of practice.
The concert itself was just before the 4th of July, and the significance of this holiday gave the directors inspiration for the concert. Featuring themed sections that each represented an aspect of war, patriotism, and service, all the music selected revolved around the central patriotism embodied by the holiday. The musical selections were also interspersed with readings of quotes and poetry, selected for their thematic resonance with the music. They were read by Past National President Richard Crosby, Eta-Omicron (Cincinnati) ’75.
A Growing Program
The record 40 participants mirror the growth in musical programs across Sinfonian events. Many regional Fireside Conferences now feature a musical group. The 2012 National Convention featured no less than four major ensembles, and with the introduction of a string orchestra we now have representation from every major instrumental family at the event. The growth of interest and participation has created an even greater need to facilitate these performances at events. We hope to expand on the richness of each brother's musical experience as we continue to grow.
SEF Support
Though there is usually an additional charge for being in the chorus at Leadership Institute, the Sinfonia Educational Foundation was proud to cover the cost so that all participants could join the chorus free of charge. This is in addition to travel grants provided for the event, and represents an expansion of their efforts to directly support Fraternity programs and events.
To read more about the SEF’s support for Leadership Institute and other programs, check out their recently-published Annual Report: http://www.sinfonia.org/SEF/pdfs/ar2012-2013.pdf
Donations can be directed to:
A Patriotic Performance
“When an American says that he loves his country, he means not only that he loves the New England hills, the prairies glistening in the sun, the wide and rising plains, the great mountains, and the sea. He means that he loves an inner air, an inner light in which freedom lives and in which a man can draw the breath of self-respect.” ~Adlai Stevenson
The performance notes from last summer’s event, copied below and written by Brother Shields, outline the significance of this theme and how it ties into the Fraternity’s Object.
America has a rich history. For over two centuries, we the people, have experienced many things in our great land. We have seen the rise and fall of many great leaders, and have witnessed first-hand the wages of war after each conflict's end. We have also witnessed great loss during these times, pulled together as a people, and grown stronger through the suffering. Let us not forget the pride we have for this country, the reasons we defend this beautiful nation which the freedom that each one of us has and given to us by the ones who protect and serve. When called upon, the men and women of America came forward and defended our freedom, and our America, and they still do to this day. We thank each one and everyone for his or her service. Furthermore, let us also not forget another group of servicemen and women without whom life would be much more difficult. I call them Unsung Heroes. They are our First Responders: Firemen, Policemen, Paramedics, Doctors, Nurses, and Volunteers with organizations such as American Red Cross, FEMA, and all the other agencies that protect and serve when needed. Be it a natural disaster, acts of terrorism, or a house fire, they are there. We thank them all for their service.
Realizing that our concert is so close to Independence Day, we wanted to honor all these individuals mentioned above. While we were researching and choosing music for this concert, a pattern began to emerge. Ideas were coming to mind faster than I could write them down on paper. The concept of this concert is designed to take us on a journey. Selections fall under different headings that conjure up feelings portrayed through our rich history. I want us to let ourselves go and immerse ourselves in these emotions. We can travel to a different place than in our seats here in this Cathedral. Please join with us and experience this journey as we present, America: A Journey Through the Years.
Listen For Yourself
The Fraternity boasts thousands of talented individuals, and we’re thrilled to feature many of them at national events. This concert is the latest to be recorded and made available for purchase, in what is becoming a quickly-expanding catalogue of recordings from Leadership Institutes and National Conventions.
To purchase the album, head to www.sinfonia.org/menofsongchorus. And check back periodically on the Sinfonia Store website, where we’ll be making all past event recordings available for download in the coming weeks and months.