Page 20 - Winter 2023 Tags and Swipes Newsletter

Tags and Swipes, Winter 2023

Merrimack Valley A Cappella

Happy New Year from MVA! As we look ahead to lots of fun and exciting activities already on our schedule
for 2023, we also looked back on all those things that transpired in late 2022 that strengthened our bonds as a
chorus. Among the highlights:

Our second Savers collection drive helped us raise money and gave everyone a chance to clean out closets,
drawers, shelves, garages and more. It was a big team effort to gather the goods – much of which we stored in a
member’s garage before the collection day – pack up the rented truck and deliver everything to the local Savers
store. We exceeded our fundraising goal!

We were thrilled to have the opportunity to be coached by two members of Martini quartet at Fall Regional
Weekend in Southbridge, Mass., in October.

Several performances were on our agenda. On Nov. 1, we had the honor of performing The Star-Spangled
th
Banner at the Massachusetts Fire Academy graduation in Stow, Mass. It was the 100 graduation ceremony at
that academy, and in addition to the graduates, the audience included their friends and family members, as well
as state and local fire department officials. On Nov. 19, we performed at Avenue at Natick, a senior living
complex. And on Dec. 2, the town of Tewksbury, Mass., asked us to sing again for the annual tree lighting
festivities. Another holiday performance for seniors – this one for the Woods at Merrimack in Methuen, Mass.,
had to be rescheduled for early January, but the seasonal spirit was still in full force for singers and audience
members alike.

Nov. 13 was a long-awaited and memorable date: our first show since 2019 -- and our first in our current
rehearsal space at Temple Emanuel in Andover, Mass. For our part of the “Falling in Love with Barbershop”
lineup, we performed our 2022 Open Division package and seven other songs, including two songs with four of
the guests who visited us during our fall membership driver. Five quartets – all of whom have at least one MVA
member – joined us: The Derry Aires, Paradigm, Carried Away, Rhythm Method, and Illuminate.

We were thrilled by the turnout at the event
– we had to pull out more chairs than
expected and the event was standing-room
only! The results underscored our efforts in
event marketing, raffles and ad book sales,
as the proceeds exceeded expectations.
Bragging rights for the section with the
most ad sales went to the baritones, and the
top individual ad sales winners will enjoy a
ride on co-director Sally Jeffery’s pontoon
boat this summer. The show concluded
with a surprise presentation to Barbara
Braxten, a founding member of MVA and
longtime director in Region 1. We
recognized her as a lifetime emeritus
member of MVA with grateful thanks for
all her contributions to MVA and Region 1 Carol and Sally Makeup
over the years.

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North Atlantic Region 1 Sweet Adelines