Issue Number 38 Fall, 2018

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North American Singer’s AssociationNord-Amerikanischer Sängerbund

Greetingsfrom thePresident...Gary Luther

What’s inside...Columbus Männerchor and Damenchor Summer Memorial Concert Page 264th SOKII District Sängerfest in Indianapolis Page 2Blondine Klimach is the latest Menhart-Pesceyne Award recipient Page 3Columbus Männerchor Choruses are growing Page 3Peoria 2019 Sängerfest Page 4Wisconsin Sängerbezirk Sängerfest Page 4

The leaves haven’t fallen yet but sum-mer is nearing a close. We have had much activity within the NASB these past months preparing for, leading up to, and following Sängertag in Evans-ville.

The Steering Committee met month-ly up to Sängertag attempting to define a direction of the NASB for the future. Geoff Kroening has done a great deed for the NASB with the Website and his work on our Facebook page. Ron Kabitzke, Editor of the Sängerzeitung, is on top of publishing each issue in a timely manner. Ron always is looking for material from choral groups to en-hance the information provided in the Zeitung. Peter Herdeg, together with Geoff Kroening and Zeitung Editor Ron Kabitzke has brought sense to our mailing list and officer positions in each of the choirs. That is easy to see with

the reduced number of emails returned when a newsletter is published.

Please take a few minutes and read the report on Sängertag. Following the Sängertag meeting, Elections were held for the next cycle of NASB Officers. District representatives on the Board effective Sängerfest 2019 will be: Paul Bockstege, SOKI District; Geoffrey Kroening, Wisconsin Sängerbezirk; David Nelson, Southern District; Sid-ney McGinty, Southern District; John Kneller, Central Ohio; Peter Herdeg, Chicago; Marlena Voigt, Michigan; Ed Helgermann, Pittsburgh; Timothy Knoernschild, St. Louis.

Based on the selection of District Representatives, a Board meeting was held to select the Executive Officers for the 2019-2022 period. Board agreed on the following slate of officers:

President Paul Bockstege, 1st VP Ed Helgerman, 2nd VP David Nelson, 3rd VP Geoffrey Kroening, 4th VP Sidney McGinty, 5th VP Marlina Voigt, Trea-surer Tim Knoernschild, Secretary Pe-ter Herdeg. And Keeper of the Archives Wolfgang  Wengler. The slate of offi-cers will be sworn in at the Empfangs-konzert in Peoria.

The next NASB Sängerfest city se-lected for 2022 was Madison, Wiscon-sin. The Fest will take place June 10-12, 2022. Per the committee, venues are currently being evaluated.

The NASB Board was honored to present Blondine Klimach, our Presi-dent Emeritus, with the 2018 Menhart-Pescenye Award of Merit. Blondine is a most deserving honoree as you can see in the accompanying article for her extremely active involvement with the German American Community.

As I work on this final year of my tenure as President, I will continue to strive involve singers in German song and culture. Some of us are currently searching for ways to reduce the me-dian age of our singers. A suggested method to get younger people involved in our singing societies is to become involved with the craft beer scene. This is probably how our choirs began to evolve in the 1800s. There is an orga-nization called The Beer Choir. If you are interested, the website is www.beer-choir.com

Mit besten Sängergrüßen,

recently as Roméo (Ro-méo et Juliette) for Center Stage Opera in California. Other recent engagements include Remendado (Car-men) for Opera Columbus and summer concerts for The Cleveland Opera, Con-tempOpera, and Cleveland Opera Theater. He has been a Young Artist with Fort Worth Opera, Glimmer-glass Opera, Utah Festival Opera, and Opera Tampa. 

He holds a BM from Ohio Wesleyan University, an MM from the University of Illinois, and further graduate work at Ohio State University. He resides in central Ohio with his wife and their 2 daughters.

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Columbus Männerchor and Damenchor Summer Memorial ConcertTrinity Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio was the venue for

the Columbus Männerchor’s special summer memorial concert on August 19, 2018. The performance was dedicated to the memory of the late operatic tenor, Otoniel “Tony” Gonzaga, who passed away in Vienna on January 13, 2018 at the age of 75 years. Tony was a long-time member and supporter of the Columbus Männerchor and often sang arias and German songs with the chorus.

The concert contained favorites of Tony’s, selected by Männer-chor director, Dr. Marc Heeg and Tony’s wife, Christina Gonzaga. Special arias and songs were also performed by the Columbus

Damenchor, and guest soloist, tenor Benjamin Bunsold.

A tribute to Tony was done by Dr. René Blaha. Tony’s wife, and former operatic soprano, Christina Gonzaga, sang with the Columbus Damenchor, A highlight of the concert was the au-dio recordings, reverberating in the sanctuary, of Tony singing “Nessun Dorma, “Una furtiva lagrima” and “Dein ist mein ganzen Herz”—which brought tears to the chorus and audi-ence alike.

The Gonzaga children and infant grandson traveled from San Francisco, Columbus and India to attend this tribute to their father. Memories were at a “Kaffee und Kuchen” reception in the church fellowship hall.

Born in the Philippines, American tenor Otoniel Gonzaga re-ceived his training at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia under the tutelage of English tenor Richard Lewis and American soprano Margaret Harshaw. While still a student in his 2nd year of training, he won First Prize in the Marian Anderson International Singing Competition in Philadelphia.

Tony appeared at more than 45 opera houses in Germany, in-cluding Berlin, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Hamburg and Munich—to name but a few. In the United States, he ap-peared in Boston, Cincin-nati, Philadelphia and Miami. Tony made his New York City Opera debut in the role of Fernando in Verdi’s Atilla. After the fall of the Iron cur-tain, he was invited to sing at the Prague State Opera in Czechoslovakia, where Otello was never produced during the Communist regime. That same year, he was invited to sing at the 50th anniversary celebration of the United Na-tions. In 2005, he was invited by Plácido Domingo to cover him in the 4th act of Verdi’s Otello in the 50th anniversary celebration of the National Opera in Washington DC. His most performed role was Prince Sou Chong in Lehar’s Das Land des Lachelns, in which he sang Dein ist mein ganzes Herz.

Tenor soloist, Benjamin Bunsold, enjoys prolific career in opera, concert, and recitals. He has sung a variety of operatic roles, most

Tony Gonzaga

Tenor Soloist Benjamin Bunsold

Christina and Tony Gongzag at the Summer concert in 2017

64th SOKII District Sängerfest in IndianapolisThe Indianapolis Liederkranz Damenchor hosted the Sängerfest

on April 13-14-15, 2018.The “Welcoming” was held on the 13th at the Liederkranz

Clubhouse. We had 2 bands entertaining our guests. “The Alpine Express”played upstairs and our own “Liederkranz Brass Band” played downstairs. The dinner included Spätzle, Gulasch, Salad, Rolls and homemade German Desserts. During the break we had a special treat, a group of seniors from Zionsville High School per-formed the “German Horn Suit Dance”. People loved it.

The Festkonzert was held on the 14th in the Grand Hall of Union Station in downtown Indianapolis. We had around 230 singers from 11 choirs performing as a mass choir. The concert was free to the public. It was a big success according to the audience. After dinner “Jay Fox and the Bavarian Showtime Band” played for dancing.

After the Delegate Meeting on the 15th we gathered at the Il-linois Ballroom at Union Station for Frühschoppen with delicious food and drinks. Shortly after that, each choir sang 3 songs sepa-rately. It is always nice to hear our other choirs and get together with old friends.

The Indianapolis Liederkranz Damenchor was proud and happy to host this successful event.

Mit freundlichen Sängergrüssen,Margit BallPresident

230 singers from 11 choirs performing as a mass choir

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Our past president, Blondine Klimach was awarded the Men-hart-Pescvyne Award of Merit for 2018 in Evansville, Indiana, dur-ing the 2018 Sängertag. Blondine is very deserving of this recog-nition as she has been active her entire life In German American Choral singing and the German American Community. Here is a short biography of her achievements as a member of Carpathia Gemischter Chor and committees she has served on:

1963-1996: Member of Carpathia Club Board of Directors for over 30 years holding positions of Corresponding Secretary, Re-cording Secretary, Membership Secretary, Ticket Chairperson, News Reporter, Ladies Group Leader, German American Cultural Center(GACC) delegate, and Director to the Danube Foundation of the USA.

Blondine was a founding member of the Deutsche Jugendgrup-pe in Detroit which in 1963 became a sub group of the Carpathia Club, and taught German to all age groups at the Carpathia Club from 1964-1985.

Member of the Carpathia Mädchenkranz, a single girls choir, which in 1964 was asked by the German Government to tour Ger-many. Joined the Carpathia Mixed Choir in 1963 and continues to sing with them today. Held positions with the Choir as Secretary, Treasurer, Music Committee member, and was their delegate to the Michigan Sängerbezirk for several years.

1976-1984 Leiterin of the Deutscher Kinderchor of Detroit where she was in charge of teaching the children the words to songs, choosing the poems for the programs, helping with rehears-als and organizing the performances.

1982-1985 was a member of the State of Michigan Ethnic Com-mission. Was also a member of the International Youth Group at the International Institute in Detroit.

She started and directed the “Evergreens” a group of former Mädchenkranz members (now married) performing at Carpath-ia functions, GACC German Day picnics, as well as other ethnic functions in the area.

In 1981, she was elected as President of the Michigan Sänger-

bezirk (MSB) and continues to hold that position to date. In this position, she is the driving force in organizing German Choirs in the MSB to participate in the annual Volkstrauertag ceremonies at Ft. Custer National Cemetery in Battle Creek, MI., and the annual MSB Kommers.

In 1984, became the MSB delegate to the NASB and was instru-mental in combining the NASB men choirs and ladies choirs into one organization which happened in 1988. She became a Board Member of the NASB in 1988 and served as 5th, 4th, and 1st Vice President. In 2006 was elected as the first woman President of the NASB and reelected in 2009.

RecognitionsHonored with the German-American Friendship Award from

the Federal Republic of Germany in 1987 and 2008.Honored as German American of the Year by the German-

American Cultural Club of Detroit 1992.Made Honorary Life Time Member of the Carpathia Club in

Feb. 2010, and inducted into the Music Hall of Fame – Ethnic Divi-sion in April, 2010.

Honored with the Order of the Cross of Merit (Bundesverdien-stkreuz) of the Federal Republic of Germany at the German Con-sulate in Chicago on July 28, 2011.

Blondine will leave the Vorstand of the NASB in 2019 after decades of dedicated service. We of the NASB wish her and her husband John a wonderful future and look forward to their unof-ficial participation in future German-American choral singing and activities.

Gary LutherPresident, NASB.

Blondine Klimach receives the Menhart-Pesceyne Award 2018

Columbus Männerchor Choruses are growing!The men of the Columbus Männerchor are busy these days, and

they are attracting new singing members. They have been singing at Valter’s at the Männerchor Restaurant, 976 South High Street in Columbus, Ohio on Fridays for a “Stammtisch” evening of en-tertaining the patrons. They also sing at the Wurst und Bier Res-taurant, 110 Hutchinson Avenue, Columbus Ohio 43235, in north Columbus. These events incorporate popular beer drinking songs as well as popular folk songs of Germany and Austria—that often involve the diners! As a result, several new singers have joined the men’s ranks from both events. The Columbus Damenchor has also added several new women singers to their chorus as a result of these community outreach projects. The Schnitzel dinners (held twice a year) also attract community members and prospective singers.

Our children’s Kinderchor is asked yearly to perform the Ger-man National Anthem at the tapping of the keg at the Columbus Oktoberfest. The children not only learn songs, but the German language as well. Dr. Marc Heeg, director and Megan Rainey, As-sistant Director and Accompanist, are kept busy with a vibrant schedule of activities for the choruses. The Columbus Männerchor is alive, well and thriving! Come visit us!

The Columbus Männerchor  976 S High Street –  www.maenne-rchor.com,

Dr. Harry Woith. membership secretary-  614 864 9149 or hwoith@aol.com.

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Sängerfest 2018 was Chaired by Bill and Dorothy Mueller and hosted by the Freier Sängerbund Manitowoc and the Wisconsin Sängerbezirk. So the Gemütlichkeit could be shared with others, Wisconsin voted to invite the choirs of the Chicago District to attend the Fest. The Fest was held at the Holiday Inn in Manitowoc from Friday through Sunday. We had 292 singers and guests in attendance.

The guests began arriving on Friday and had a friendly gathering at the Wisconsin Hospitality Room with accordion back-

National Sängerfest is set for May 16 - May

19, 2019 in PeoriaHope this finds all of you well and ready

to begin practicing the songs for the 2019 National Sängerfest. We sent a couple e-mails to the choruses in the last few months regarding the songbook and the procedure for ordering the books. Huge thank you to all who responded so quickly. Debbie Hedemann has been mailing books out so many of you should have them already. If you have not received them yet, rest assured they will be sent soon. They say if you want something done, give it to a busy person, that’s Debbie. We thank you for your pa-tience and appreciate your understanding. We are excited to have the opportunity to host our second National Sängerfest and the committee chairs are meeting to work out all the necessary arrangements. As I said before this is “Come Play in Peoria Part II”. We already have great support from our Peoria Area Convention and Visitor’s Bu-reau and they have offered to help us with our planning and marketing!

If your chorus has not received an e-mail from me [lease contact me at dempster40@comcast.net and include the name of your chorus, contact name and e-mail address.

The venues have been booked and we are finalizing hotel contracts. The head-quarters hotel contract has been signed but there are several others available in down-town Peoria and surrounding area that need to be taken care of. In that regard it is important that we don’t overbook since the contracts always include an attrition clause that requires us to pay for rooms booked and not used. We hope to get registration and hotel information out to all of you in the next couple of months, as well as a draft schedule for the event. Please be patient.

For now here is a very tentative schedule with times to be determined:

Thursday, May 16 - Dämmerschoppen

for those arriving early – still working on this (Lindenhof Hall)!!!

Friday, May 17 – Hotel check-in and Registration, Civic Center - District Re-hearsals, Empfangskonzert

Saturday, May 18 – Mass Chorus and Parade of Flags Rehearsal, Hauptkonzert (late afternoon), Dinner/Dance following concert.

Sunday, May 19 – Frühschoppen – Hickory Grove Park

Peoria hosted a Director’s Forum on July 13 and 14. Eleven directors attended. It was a very productive meeting.

There is a lot more to do but please be assured that, as soon as we have finalized arrangements, we will be communicating to all of you how to register for the event and also how to contact hotels for accom-modations.

Now that this is communicated to all of you, we are more motivated than ever to get to work and make this one of the best Saengerfest ever. Thanks to everyone for your support and enthusiasm. We are very much looking forward to seeing all of you in Peoria in 2019!

Mary DempsterDebbie HedemannSängerfest Co-chairs

ground music. Saturday morning was the official reg-

istration. Cookies, apples and coffee were served during the registration period. Re-hearsals for the choirs took place in rapid succession so that in the early afternoon, our joint concert could take place. The ho-tel made arrangements to hold the concert in a large atrium of the hotel which easily seated the guests and singers. Risers and sound system were provided by the Wis-consin District.

The WSB/Chicago Joint choral group sang Das Rennsteiglied and Das Kufstein-lied.

WSB mixed choir sang Das Karwen-del Lied and Ade zur guten Nacht. Chi-cago District ladies sang Einladung zum Gesang and Sonntagsfeier. Chicago Men’s group sang In der Ferne and Der Einsiedler and die Nacht. Chicago Mixed Choir per-formed Die Kleine Bergkirche and Im Dorf da geht die Glocke schon. Further choral performances were by Kenosha Männer-chor, Madison Männerchor, Milwaukee Liederkranz, Milwaukee Damenchor, Con-cordia Sheboygan/Freier Sängerbund, and Milwaukee DANK/Schwabenmännerchor.

Following the concert, a delicious din-ner buffet was served in the hotel ball room with music provided for entertainment and dancing by the Jerry Schneider Band.

A Sunday ecumenical church service took place in the atrium of the hotel with over 90 % of the singers and guest partak-ing in the event which included singing of hymns used at the Germanfest service. The collection from the service was $618 and was donated to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

A tailgate party was held at the Newton Firemen’s’ Park to round out the enjoyable weekend. Everyone agreed that a joint Sän-gerfest is a fun and worthy event to keep up the German – American togetherness which had been a mainstay of the Nord Amerikanischer Sängerbund for over a century. Planning has already begun for a District Sängerfest in 2020.

Wisconsin Sängerbezirk Sängerfest with guest Bezirk

Chicago June 1-3, 2018

Singers from the Wisconsin Sängerbezirk choirs including singers from the Chicago District pack the risers