Page 18 - Summer 2024 Tags & Swipes Newsletter

Tags and Swipes, Summer 2024

Merrimack Valley A Cappella

MVA had a busy first half of 2024, but the flurry of activity will probably seem tame as we begin our
preparations in earnest for the international Harmony Classic in Kansas City this October! Fundraising
has been a focus, and from February through early May we’ve worked with Dutch Mill Bulbs to sell a
variety of spring-planted bulbs to our family and friends. That’s been very successful, and we thank one
of our baris, Tricia Schwartz, for spearheading that effort.

This past February we started work on our visual plan for our new regional contest uptune, No Strings,
with a coaching session led by Dundalk Chorus Master Director, Jen Williams. Jen gave us a great
foundation that we refined during the next few months.

In March, we traveled to Hyannis on Cape Cod for our first overnight retreat since 2019 and learned so
much from the very fabulous Metro Nashville Chorus Master Director Kim Wonders. We want to give a
big shout-out to Cranberry Shores Chorus, who kindly let us borrow their risers for the weekend! Given
our location, there was a beach theme for our Saturday party, and the creativity of the skits was
outstanding! During the evening, we announced the 2024 winner of MVA’s “In Her Footsteps Award”,
which honors the memory and contributions of one of MVA’s founders, Marge Bennett. There were many
nominations for this prestigious award, which speaks highly of the quality and dedication of MVA
members, and that made the final decision a challenge for the nominating committee. We give our
heartfelt congratulations to Assistant Director Marian Minnich who earned this well-deserved award.

Buffalo Gateway Director Diane Porsch coached us in April before our cabaret, giving us lots of creative
ways to visualize and produce unit sound. Among the memorable takeaways: “Let’s continue to trust one
another and move, sing and breathe as ONE! We are an......amoeba!” All the preparations served us well
in Springfield, and we were thrilled to take home medals for first place mid-sized chorus and third place
overall. A bevy of new members participated, as four of the Class of 2024’s “Magnificent 7” joined us on
the risers. Kudos to Membership Coordinator Linda Green who has been busy all year handling inquiries
and joining Audition Coordinator Kate Roberts in helping the newbies settle in.

The installation of the new Management Team, and recognition of the departing members, took place in
May with an introduction by bari Betsy Colburn Mirkovic. As she has done many times in the past, Betsy
ties her remarks about the team and management tasks to a theme, and this year – in a nod to Kansas
City’s food heritage – pointed out the close similarity between barbecue (BBQ) and barbershop (BBS)
including: “One goes into the mouth, the other comes out. Both are sweet, tangy, tender, with bit of heat
and spice, mellow and lovely. Both bring joy to recipients and to those who produce it. Pitmasters and
MT members both need technical knowledge, artistry, organizational/planning skills, persistence and a
community of supporters.” Big thanks to outgoing Team Coordinator Michelle Dominijanni, who served
for the past 10 years.

Public performances continue to be an MVA staple, thanks to the outstanding efforts of our outgoing
Performance Coordinator, Janet Mulligan. We sang the national anthem before the UMASS Lowell men's
hockey game, serenaded residents at The Woods at Merrimack in Methuen (both in February) and sang
for participants at the Lowell General Hospital Team Walk for Cancer Care in May. We’ll be at the
Wilmington Farmer’s Market in June.

Trisha Smith
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North Atlantic Region 1 Sweet Adelines