On March 21, 2009 a one day singing school was organized by Kathleen Mavournin and Tina Becker, over 30 people attended the school. Kathleen and Tina led classes in the fundamentals. Other classes and leaders included "Challenging Songs" - Steve Stone, "Shape Note History in East Tennessee" - Robin Goddard and Dave Sarten, "Elements of Composition" - Randy Webber, and "Leading" - Chaz Barber.







The next day for the Annual Epworth dinner and singing, we had over 45 attending, with some students from Roane State choral group in Harriman, TN, who are singing two songs from our tunebook for an upcoming concert. Odis and Phyllis Abbott with their family attended even after his fall. Robert Kelley, Phd., from Greenwood, SC, taught us Rose of Sharon for an upcoming wedding. There were singers from NC, also, Mary and Chris. And Leslie from Elizabethton, TN. Randy Webber from Kentucky who taught Composition and had us demonstrate a song the class wrote.








Click to read the Minutes of the singing supplied by Bob Richmond


Click to hear the presentation of Robin Goddard and David Sarten on how our tradition grew up in the area of the Great Smokies National Park. The file is large and will take a while to download even with broadband. Thanks to Ann Strange for the audio file from her recording.


Our thanks go to the many people that participated in organizing, leading, performing behind the scenes tasks and singing as a community. This is what brings us together and keeps our traditions alive.