2010 Fall TS! v8.qxp: 2005 Spring Texas Sings! FINAL 9/30/10 12:46 PM Page 4
President’s Page
It Takes a Village by TCDA President Amy Allibon
O
ur time together in San Antonio this past July was truly blessed by greatness from a dedicated TCDA Board and staff, internationally renowned clinicians, Texas’ best conductors and accompanists, and many, many volunteers. In the face of managing the Convention without our executive director, Dan Wood, people rose to the occasion to go above and beyond the call of duty. Jeanne Kuhn Lowenhaupt, TCDA’s executive assistant, worked long days and weekends to make sure all of the membership and registration issues were prepared, managed, and maintained. Jeanne was extremely helpful to me as I navigated uncharted waters of completing Convention plans. Dan’s wife, Marilyn Good, was the definition of calm in the storm as she prepared the Convention Program for TCDA. Her expertise as a former association communication director came as a great asset to us in our time of need. Even while caring for Dan, Marilyn took care of TCDA as well. I must thank Dan Wood, who while convalescing from major surgery, continued to help wrap up final details for the Convention and answer dozens of questions from me each day. I am also grateful for the help of our comrades at TMEA. Kay Vanlandingham, Karen Kneten, and Andrew Denman all contributed to Convention preparations and ultimately, the execution of a very smooth Convention. Kay helped with convention center coordination, Karen served as our fabulous photographer, and Andrew provided tech support in the TCDA office. Robin Tovar from the TBA office managed our exhibitors during the Convention. She graciously remained on-site after her own hectic TBA convention to manage ours. There are not adequate words to express our thanks to these colleagues who selflessly gave us their time and expertise. 4
President Amy Allibon
The TCDA Board consists of elected volunteers who maintain full time jobs as highly respected musicians and leaders of huge music programs. I often wondered where they found the time to do the marvelous things they did for TCDA this year. I could not have asked for a more astute, detail-, and service-oriented group of people than the 2009-2010 Board. My sincerest gratitude to the Board members for all of their work towards the Convention, healthy conversations about policies and philosophies, and kindness and encouragement as we jumped into the deep end of this Convention without our water wings! Past President Bob Horton planned a wonderful High School Student Day, organized the scholarship recipients, helped me through my first year as President, and always saw the humor in whatever we were facing. Thomas Coker’s tenure as the Church Division Vice President will always be remembered for the vision and tenacity in getting John Rutter to Texas again. Thirty years after For the Beauty of the Earth, we now have Mr Rutter’s With Heart and Hands and Voice written for TCDA. Elementary Vice President Karen Gonzalez was not only an amazing Honor Choir coordinator, but planned TEXAS√SINGS!
two years of Conventions that set a high standard for what the elementary division will expect from their Conventions in the future. Sharon Paul hit a homerun with her workshop planning as well, evidenced by the positive comments in our Suggestion Box. Dianna Jarvis had the wise insight to bring Lynn Gackle to TCDA, among other wonderful clinicians that the MS/JH Division raved about. College/Community Vice President John Silantien, who managed no less than 30 college student conductors and volunteers, was also instrumental in the ceremonies and induction of Cloys Webb into the Lest We Forget exhibit. He also arranged two wonderful performances this past Convention of the fabulous San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble and the talented Texas Voices, Alan Dyer, conductor. Kay Owens filled her role as Secretary/Treasurer with a charm and ease that only Kay brings to the mix of things. Kay’s ‘Deep Southern’ roots and drawl often have a calming effect in a harried situation like registration. The tireless efforts of the Board to read through 2,000 octavos to choose the best 200-plus pieces for the reading packets is something they do behind the scenes from October through May. Board members pore over thousands of octavos looking for the gems for the Convention. Their integrity in reading each and every piece was evidenced this year as I heard numerous and frequent comments from members who were finding good music to purchase for their choirs. Hearing comments like that makes the hours of reading and filing worth it.
I
am indebted to several who served as committee chairs this year: Billy Talley, Ballot Committee Chair; Mary Jane Phillips, Ways and Means Committee Chair; Danny Detrick, Nominating Committee Chair; Michael O’Hern, Scholarship Chair; and Thomas Rinn, Fall 2010