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Western Massachusetts Sacred Harp Community, Inc.
Convention Officers' Annual Report
12/1/04
The 2004 Western Massachusetts Sacred Harp Convention was a success thanks to everyone's hard work and enthusiasm. Each year the planning and execution of our two day singing event gets a little easier, less stressful, and more comfortable.
This year we had a record 317 registered singers, tons (literally, it seemed!) of food, and a wonderful social hosted by John and Greta Holbrook.
In 2004 there were also a couple of small changes. Shorter sessions (50 min.) and more frequent breaks kept us all in better voice and more energized longer. We were also concerned about a possible influx of new guests due to all of the media attention
towards singing right around convention time. We love guests, but wanted to make sure we had room for them! Anticipating a bigger crowd, we made more places in the square thanks to smaller chairs, and a supply of comfortable cushions donated by Laurel Park community for those that wanted them. These were minimal changes, but ones that
hopefully made the singing more enjoyable. Otherwise our convention was pretty much business as usual, as dictated by the greater Sacred Harp tradition as well as the special Western Mass qualities that make the second Sunday in March and the Saturday before our very own.
I would like to thank everyone for their boundless help, energy and enthusiasm in working towards a wonderful WMSHC. Convention is truly a group effort in every sense. In many ways it is the centerpiece of our community, and a chance to share the wonderful thing we have with the wider singing world. I'm already counting down
until March 05...
Submitted by Jenna Strizak