February 2025 Atlanta Sacred Harp Newsletter
John Plunkett
February 2025 Atlanta Sacred Harp Newsletter
Mark your calendars!! - There will be a series of mini-singing schools for beginners on the first three Thursday nights in April (3rd/10th/17th), 7pm. Details in the March newsletter.
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Feb. 1st, Saturday, 10:00am-3:00pm, Shenandoah Harmony all day singing at St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church (1188 Hamp Mill Rd, Dahlonega, GA 30533). The singing will run from 10 am to 3 pm with dinner on the grounds at noon. Please bring food to share if you are able. We have full kitchen facilities and will provide coffee in the morning. All are also welcome to join us for an evening singing from the Valley Pocket Harmonist, 5-7 pm in the Vickery House, Dahlonega, GA. We have extra copies of both books to borrow or buy. Contact emellis at gmail.com with any questions.
Feb. 1st, Saturday before 1st Sunday, 9:30 am Central Time, Rotunda singing, 9 Alabama State Archives and History Building, 624 Washington Ave., Montgomery AL 4 books used: Sacred Harp 1991 and Cooper revisions, Christian Harmony, Colored Sacred Harp. BBQ lunch for $10.00. Info: Stefani Priskos 334-242-5143 or stefani at arts dot alabama dot gov
Feb. 2nd, 1st Sunday, Uncle Bob Burnham and Ruth Brown Memorial Singing, 9:00 am Central Time, Wesley Foundation, Jacksonville State University, 510 N. Pelham Rd (Hwy 21), Jacksonville, AL. GPS: 33.8197580 -85.7620410 . Info: Kathy Williams, (904) 610-1827 katzenhw.47 - at - gmail - dot -com or Tom George, tdgeorge325 at gmail dot com.
Feb 6th, First Thursday, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. First Thursday, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Indoor singing from The Sacred Harp and The Eclectic Harmony. Emory Presbyterian Church, 1886 North Decatur Rd, Atlanta GA 30307. Park behind the church, off Westminster Way. "Test-to-Sing" COVID precautions: Vaccination is required; don't come if you have any COVID symptoms; same-day COVID antigen test required. Test at home, and bring the details to be verified. Tests are also available on site, if you arrive early. Info:Jim Neal, jim_neal-at-bellsouth.net.
Feb. 8th, Saturday before 2nd Sunday, 10:00, Emory Sacred Harp Singing, NEW LOCATION!!, Wesley Teaching Chapel - dinner on the grounds at noon. Our new location for this year, the Wesley Teaching Chapel, is located on the ground floor of the Rita Ann Rollins Building (1531 Dickey Dr.), the building complex that houses the Pitts Theology Library. Park in the Peavine Visitors’ Lot and enter off Dickey Dr. More information is on the Visit Candler web page. During dinner or after the singing, singers can visit "Singing the Sacred" an exhibition of southern sacred songbooks and hymnals in the nearby Pitts Theology Library gallery. Questions: Contact Jesse P. Karlsberg (jesse.karlsberg at gmail dot com; 617-984-9378).
Feb 9th, second Sunday in February, Roy Avery Memorial singing, Rocky Mount PBC, 4413 County Road 79. 3 miles south of Daviston Alabama off highway 22.
Feb 11th & 25th - Tuesday, 7:00pm - Dahlonega Sacred Harp singing, We sing at the Vickery House on West Main Street, Dahlonega, GA. The Vickery House does not have a street address, but it is on Google Maps. Since we sing in the evenings, you can park in any UNG spot or right next to the back door of the Vickery House. We start with a brief introduction for newcomers at 6:45. Then we sing until at least 8:45, although sometimes we go a bit longer. All are welcome! Contact Esther Morgan-Ellis - emellis at gmail dot com.
Feb. 22nd, Saturday before 4th Sunday, JL White revision of the Sacred Harp (4th Edition with Supplement), at Hardeman Primitive Baptist Church 3965 Glenwood Rd, Decatur, GA 30032 - 10:00am start with dinner on the ground at noon. Loaner books available. Please stay home if you are having Covid, Flu, or other respiratory symptoms.
Feb. 23rd, 4th Sunday, 51st Annual University of Georgia Shape Note Singing. No. 3 Railroad Street, Arnoldsville, GA (previously held at the State Botanical Gardens). Come sing from shape note hymnals originally published in the 1800's by Georgia composers - The Social Harp by John G. McCurry of Hart County (morning) and The Sacred Harp (1991 rev) by B.F. White of Hamilton (afternoon). Dinner on the grounds at noon. 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Health protocols: If you have symptoms of or known recent exposure to a contagious illness, please stay home and we'll sing for you this year. For your own protection, appropriate vaccinations and boosters are advisable. And for the consideration of others, self-testing for COVID is recommended. Some COVID self-test kits will be available on site. Masks are optional. Contact: fishman.mds at gmail dot com, or David Smead at dsmead at gmail dot com. http://www.3railroad.org/index.php
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Looking Ahead -
March 2nd (Sun) - Ephesus Schoolhouse - Ephesus, GA.
March 15th (Sat) - 30th South Carolina State Singing in Memory of William Walker - Christian Harmony and Sacred Harp, Spartanburg, SC.
March 15th (Sat) - All-day Hoboken Singing - Cooper book, Mars Hill Church, Hoboken, GA. (Lloyd Hymnbook singing in the evening).
March 22nd/23rd (Sat/Sun) - GA State Sacred Harp Convention - Holly Springs Church, Bremen, GA.
March 29th (Sat) - Georgian Harmony singing at Sweetwater Chapel, Lawrenceville, GA.
April 6th (Sat) all day Sacred Harp singing. - St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Dahlonega, GA.
April 26th (Sat) - Atlanta All-Day Sacred Harp Singing - First Existentialist Congregation on Candler Park Drive.