Annie. Alfred Choir Alumni Newsletter February 2012

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1 Greetings to all of you in Alumni land! We all have a lot to be thankful for.not too much snow or cold this year, friends and family both new and old.knowing that so far the Mayans were wrong about the end of the world. I would really like to clean out my basement before that. This April promises to be a special reunion. It is wonderful that the auditorium will be named after our own Fearless Leader. How even more special that we can all celebrate and continue to enjoy that choir feeling with each other. We are all looking forward to seeing as many of you as can make it! Annie Alumni Weekend 2012 April 28-April 29 An Auditorium Dedication Sunday, April 29, 2012, will be a date that we choir alumni will remember for years to come. That s because, during Alumni Weekend this year, the Auditorium in the Orvis Building, where we have been performing concerts for decades, will be renamed the Anthony Cappadonia Auditorium. We can t think of a more appropriate way to honor Mr. C/Cappy. He has been inspiring choral (and band) excellence in students since His dedication, passion and love of music (and his students) is a legacy deserving of permanent recognition. The college began the project to honor Mr. C by initiating a campaign to raise money to help renovate the Orvis Building Auditorium, citing his leadership affected people in a remarkable and unforgettable way. There is no one more deserving of this special recognition and celebrating his lifetime achievement in this way is very exciting. The renovation/naming campaign is still active and working its way toward completion. So, if you would like to honor Mr. C by making a donation click here, or you can mail a check made out to ASC Development Fund (Memo: Cappadonia Auditorium) to: Office of Institutional Advancement Alfred State College 10 Upper College Dr. Alfred, NY Dr. John Anderson, President of the college, will officiate at the dedication ceremony during our concert on Sunday, April 29. There will be a light reception following. We hope that you will be able to join us this year, for our 61 st Annual Spring Concert. It will prove to be a truly memorable weekend. Our annual alumni dinner will be held at Hornell Golf Club on Seneca Road in Hornell. This is a change from the last few years' casual, picnic-like gatherings, but we would like to keep the attire comfortable and fun. (It will be nice not to have to shop, cook and clean up, though.) Also, this year, we are setting aside some time after dinner for chatting and getting caught up. We re calling it our Mix and Mingle Time. (Bring some pictures to share.) The fun dance music will start around 9pm. This was a suggestion from some alumni and we think it s a good one. Reservations If you plan to attend this year s Alumni Weekend, please fill out the reservation form on page 4 and mail it to Merri-Lou McKeever no later than April 20. Or, if it s easier for you, fill in the form electronically and it back to mlmck@rochester.rr.com with a Subject line: Alumni Reservation. Be sure you look for an acknowledging receipt of your reservation. We know some of you are procrastinators or just assume that we know you are attending. Please don t wait until a day or two before to let us know you re coming. We need head counts for planning no later than April 20. Thank you for your help on this. Page 1 of 5

2 Note: And don t forget to cancel early if you find you cannot attend after making a reservation. Alfred State College Voices Report Linda Staiger reported: I am very happy to report that ASC Voices is growing--with at least 15 members this semester. It is rather challenging to find times for them: we have three rehearsal days set up with the idea that singers must come to at least two of them. It's rather fun on Wednesdays--they come from 6-7 and no one wants to leave...they just like to sing and play piano. Some like to peruse the music in the boxes all over the room!!!! We will sing at Howe Library on April 5 along with Jazz Band. Then we do the Cultural Showcase on April 19. We have been looking at several cultures for music including Appalachian, more Latvian, some Irish, and whatever. They are quite excited about the program. We have our Spring Concert on Friday, April 27 and then we plan to sing 2 songs at the Alumni concert. In addition, we hope to present a Jazz Cabaret sometime during March with mostly solos, small ensembles rather than all choral. This is their baby so it should turn into a wonderful 'show'. We are working on Chorus to Chorus Project, raising funds to buy choral music for the MacArthur Elementary School's chorus in Binghamton and we are composing a song to give to them as well. We may be offering a fun day with music sessions for local schools as well. If all goes well, we will also compose and perform a new jingle for WETD. (Hopefully this will lead us into more jingles for groups outside Alfred State College as well.) We had been trying to get RIT's "Yellojackets" to come to ASC for a concert, but without the aud we decided to wait until the fall. Blessings to Alumni and Cappy! Last year s Alumni Weekend 2011 CDs If you ordered CDs of the concert last year, you should have it by now. If you haven t received what you ordered, please let Annie know (see contact info.) PEOPLE NEWS Martin Wright (1962) To Mr. C: How often I think of you and the wonderful times in the concert choir. Last Saturday, I was listening to WNED-FM, our public radio station here in Buffalo, and they played Sanctus from Mozart s St. Cecilia Mass. I was instantly transported back to Alfred; the rehearsal hall, choir trips, really wonderful times. I see my old LP of Finian s Rainbow and I remember my truly awful (no lie) audition for the part of the leprechaun in our production. The song was Dream, and I m young again and standing on the bleachers looking at you directing us. As Bob Hope said Thanks for the Memories! What an honor to have the auditorium named for you! Dave Andrews (1996) I just got the newsletter and figured I'd better get a note out to you before time slipped away. Sadly, I will not be able to attend the choir gathering in 2012 as my wife, Christina, and I are expecting our second child the first week of May. It would just be too close for comfort to be so far away from home that near to her due date. At least I have a good excuse, right? We're thrilled about the impending arrival but, along with not seeing everyone next year, I'm going to especially miss experiencing first-hand the official dedication of the new auditorium in the name of our exalted leader. What a fantastic thing that will be. Hooray, C! People News would love to hear from you. Please contact any of the officers at the addresses listed below. Electronic Newsletter What are you waiting for? Top 5 Reasons to give us your ID: 1) You will receive the newsletter about a week earlier than if we have to mail it 2) You will receive invitations to special events held throughout the year, as well as special alumni notices. 3) You will receive notices of web updates. 4) You will help reduce the cost of printing, stuffing and mailing the newsletter. 5) You will make a positive environmental statement reduce paper waste go electronic. Come on. It s Join us in the world of modern technology and send your to any of the officers listed below. Page 2 of 5

3 Anthony Cappadonia, Director (607) South Main St., Almond, NY Annie Peiffer, President (315) E. Foster St., Palmyra, NY Bebe Cappadonia, Vice President (See Cappy) How to contact us: Merri-Lou McKeever, Secretary/Treasurer (585) Barrington St., Rochester, NY Charlie Johnstone, Website Manager (585) South Frost Hollow, Livonia, NY ALUMNI WEEKEND SCHEDULE SATURDAY, APRIL 28, am Alumni Jazz Rehearsal, Orvis Building 1 pm Alumni Concert Choir Rehearsal, Orvis Building 6 pm Alumni Choir Happy Hour Hornell Golf Club, 473 Seneca Rd., Hornell, NY 7 pm Dinner 8 pm After Dinner Mix and Mingle Time NEW! 9 pm DJ Music Party and Dance Time. SUNDAY, APRIL 29, :00 am Alumni Jazz Rehearsal, Orvis Auditorium 12:00 am Alumni Concert Choir Rehearsal, Orvis Auditorium 2 pm 61 st Annual Spring Concert (dress code: Sunday best) 5 pm After concert dinner Club 57, 7465 Seneca Rd. North, Hornell, NY eçíéäëljçíéäë= `çãñçêí=fååi=eçêåéää=j=smtjpoqjqpmm= båçåç=iççöéi=eçêåéää=j=smtjpoqjmumm= p~ñçå=fåå=eçíéäi=^äñêéç=j=smtjutnj=osmm= a~óûë=fååi=eçêåéää=j=smtjpoqjsooo= båçåçãó=fååi=^äñêéç=pí~íáçå=j=smtjrutjunmt= a~óë=fååi=_~íü=j=smtjttsjtsqq= pìééê=ui=_~íüj=smtjttsjonut When writing us a check Gentle reminder when making out checks for CDs or dues or Alumni Weekend dinners, please be sure to make them out to M.L. McKeever, noting the purpose for the check in the Subject or Memo line. We are not able to cash checks made out to Page 3 of 5 Alfred State Alumni Choir. Thank you.

4 RESERVATION FORM ALFRED CHOIR ALUMNI WEEKEND APRIL 28-APRIL 29, 2012 Name: Guest name(s): Address: Telephone: Year Graduated: G Check here if this information includes a change. RETURN NO LATER THAN APRIL 20, 2012 RESERVATION INFORMATION: G Yes, I / we plan to attend the gathering Saturday night. # Adults x $25 ea = $ # Children x $12 ea = $ (children 5-12) # Children x free = $ (children under 5) $ Total $ for dinner G Yes, I/ we will be singing with the Alumni choir on Sunday ( S / A / T / B ) G Enclosed is Year dues ($7 single; $10 choir couple) $ Total $ for dues $ TOTAL ENCLOSED Make checks payable to M.L. McKeever (in the Memo area, write: Alfred Choir Alumni) and mail it, along with this form, to: Merri-Lou McKeever 189 Barrington St. Rochester, NY or me at mlmck@rochester.rr.com Page 4 of 5

5 February, 2012 Dear Alumni: This is Bebe again this year writing to you for C, Cappy, Mr. C...whatever name he has been lovingly called by choir members and alumni over the years. It doesn t seem possible that the holidays are behind us, and it s February 2012 already just seemed to fly by. And of course, this year, we are enjoying one of the warmest winters we have experienced, with only a few inches of snow so far...of course, I say that now, hoping that we don t get dumped on in February or March...but we ve been happy for the warmer weather in NY so far! In April, 2011, we had another wonderful Alumni Weekend where Alfred State College President John Anderson announced a challenge for our choir alumni to raise $100,000, toward the costs of renovating the auditorium in the Orvis Activities Building, and of course he proceeded to also announce that the auditorium would be dedicated and named after our director, Anthony Cappadonia. C couldn t have been more surprised and honored. Needless to say, we are looking forward to our very special Alumni Weekend in April 2012 in the renovated auditorium with the dedication ceremony to be part of the concert on Sunday, April 29, We hope, of course, that even more alumni will attend this special occasion. With that said, both C and I would like to extend our humble thanks to alumni, our family, friends and everyone who has pledged their financial support for this great honor for him. We would also like to thank everyone involved at Alfred State College (Administration, Alumni Association, Marketing, Fundraising staff members, etc.) who have worked so hard during the past year to contact individuals and organizations, etc. in our efforts to meet our financial goal. We are very grateful to all of you. As far as C s health is concerned, he is doing as well as can be expected at this point. The Alzheimer s has slowly progressed and his memory loss has become more acute recently. He is experiencing more trouble remembering things, but for the most part, he is doing alright for what he has to work with at age 88. So I ll end on that note...excuse the pun...and just say that C is really looking forward to this year s Alumni Weekend. He feels very blessed for his wonderful family of 11 children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, his alumni extended family, and for his 56+ years in a career that afforded him the opportunity to live his passion for music through all of you. I hope you can join us in honoring him in April. God Bless. Page 5 of 5 Bebe