Overview

The 65th Congress of the GCNA will be in Sewanee, TN, from Monday through Thursday, June 18 – 21, with pre-congress events on Sunday, June 17th, and post-congress events in Nashville on Friday, June 22nd. The centerpiece for the congress, both literally and figuratively, will be the 56-bell Leonidas Polk Carillon in Shapard Tower of All Saints' Chapel at Sewanee: The University of the South.

Pre-congress events on Sunday include: the morning Eucharist at All Saints' Chapel; the opening performance of the 51st season of the Sewanee Summer Music Festival; a performance of pieces composed for the Sewanee carillon, played by the site host; and a "progressive reception" (shades of the 60s and 70s!). In the early evening, while the changeringing bells in Breslin Tower are being played, the first stage of the reception will take place. Then, in either order, attendees may attend a wine and cheese reception (to view a display in the archives building) or a coffee and dessert reception (which will be the opening for a display of Marie Hammond's paintings at the Stirling's Coffee House). 

The Congress will begin first thing on Monday morning. In addition to advancement recitals, there will be performances by Jeff Davis, Bill DeTurk, Todd Fair, Sam Hammond, Eddy Mariën, and Janet Tebbel. Koen Coesart will present an illustrated talk on Piano versus Carillon: professional musicians versus amateur carillonneurs, people in search for a better carillon. Bill DeTurk will talk about Arthur Bigelow, the man who designed and installed the Sewanee carillon in 1958-59, and  Beverly Buchanan has organized a panel to discuss issues about performance and copyright.

On three afternoons there will be workshops and excursions. Tours include All Saints’ Chapel, the University cemetery, the campus, the Shapard Carillon tower, the Breslin tower (changeringing), short performances by University Organist and Choirmaster Robbe Delcamp and then hands-on playing time of the two Casavant organs, and two nature walks (easy and more rugged). Workshops include classes on Finale, a comparison of Finale and Sibelius, arranging music for the carillon, interpretation of carillon music, and improvisation.

There will be two, all-afternoon trips. One is to the Jack Daniel’s Distillery (www.jackdaniels.com) in Lynchburg (an extra charge) and one to the Meeks-Watson 23-bell carillon at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Ooltewah, TN (no charge for the first 50 people, courtesy of Rick Watson).

The theme will be:

Gerald Smith, Professor of Religion at Sewanee, will give a talk on the people who migrated to this region in the 18th and 19th centuries and then helped develop and spread Shape Note singing.

 
Geert D'hollander is composing a triptych on typical Southern Harmony/Sacred Harp tunes: Restoration, Holy Manna, and Ninety-Fifth; copies will be given to each participant. Geert will be here to perform the world premiere. A Shape Note singing group will come to Sewanee to both perform and lead congress attendees in singing.

Ronald Barnes wrote a series of arrangements on White Spirituals, the spirituals being in the shape note genre. Sam Hammond will perform some of these arrangements, and Stephen Miller, of the Sewanee music faculty, will give a talk.

Folk music is very popular in Sewanee, and a local group will perform music on acoustic instruments with a special emphasis on ballads from the British Isles. A blue grass band will perform at the banquet.

Since Sewanee is a small town with 'not much else going on' and since meals in the dining hall will be expeditious, many of the events will take place in the evenings.

The post-congress events will take place in Nashville and are being coordinated by Belmont University Carillonneur Richard Shadinger.  There will be visits to the three carillons in Nashville: Belmont University, David Lipscomb University, and the Tennessee Bicentennial Carillon. Hands-on time will be available at the two universities. You may also tour the Belmont Mansion (www.belmontmansion.com), an ante-bellum mansion on the campus of Belmont University, and eat lunch.

The climax of the whole congress, and particularly of the Appalachian Music theme, will be a night at the Gaylord Opryland Resort Hotel (www.gaylordhotels.com) and attending a performance at the Grand Ole Opry (www.opry.com), a Nashville tradition and the longest running live radio show in America. The music of Appalachia, that started in this area, manifests itself today in the Grand Ole Opry. The rates that we have been quoted to stay at the hotel and to attend the Friday night, 8:00 PM performance, are quite attractive. We need at least 10 rooms spoken for by March 15 to get the prices quoted. There is no upper limit! The Opryland Hotel is an experience in itself. The hotel provides complimentary airport shuttles.

If you are planning to fly to the congress, Nashville is probably your best bet, although Chattanooga is also a possibility. There is a shuttle service from Nashville (and one from Chattanooga) to Monteagle, a town on the interstate that is about 5 miles from Sewanee. Groome Transportation provides the shuttle service. Schedules and reservations are available at 800-896-9928 and www.groomechattanooga.com. Please remember that Nashville, Monteagle, and Sewanee are on Central Time, while Chattanooga is on Eastern Time. We will provide transportation from Monteagle to Sewanee. Transportation from Sewanee to Nashville will be available for the post-congress events. There is not really a need for a car in Sewanee!

Using the side bar links (to the left!) please also find:
•    Information on Accommodations for the Sewanee Congress
•    Forms for Registration and for Campus Accommodations