Young @ Heart Luncheon–February 12, 2013

Our program for this month was a Valentines Theme. We listened to some fun music and enjoyed a nice meal.

To start, we enjoyed music by Fred Scheffler and Nathan Brandt at the piano for our Early Bird Prelude material. I thought Nathan did a great job. He is David’s brother. David has played for us in the past but is now away at the University.

Following our normal opening material, we enjoyed a concert by the New Horizons Jazz Ensemble. They played some nice music including a lot of Glen Miller music.  This band is sponsored by the University of Dayton Continuing Education Department. Most of the musicians are senior citizens who in the past played instruments in bands, etc. Maybe some of our people would be interested in dusting off an old instrument and polishing some old skills and joining the program.

I hoped to be able to also post a sample of their music, but unfortunately, this was  not properly recorded!    So, you can get a taste of the music style at his website. We didn’t have any vocalists, though.

The drummer in the center photo above is my primary contact with the group and a fine gentleman, Chuck Steward.

…. and yes, that is a plastic trombone. There were actually four of them all different bright colors and they sounded pretty good in the one number where they were used.

The ensemble is led by Tom Pfrogner who is also involved in a number of other musical projects, including his own group, Tom Daugherty Orchestra. He was also a High School Band Director and teacher. As you can see, he also plays a Trombone and the piano/keyboard.

Lisa and her staff did another fine job in the kitchen and dining room! Several of you requested her recipe, so that will be available in our March Newsletter.

We also introduced our Fall Travel plans. We’re going to Florida in September! Be sure to check this out, if you are interested, and get your money in for the reservations as soon as possible! See the Brochure, HERE.  I am surprised at how quickly this one is filling up. Hopefully, we can get about 50 of you for this one.

February 8, 2013 – Luncheon with Dave Harney

Our February Luncheon program was a very good one with one of our favorite musicians, Dave Harney. Dave is a excellent soloist and also sings with Gospel Quartet groups. He has been performing with Young at Heart since before I came on the scene! He and his wife Mary are always welcomed warmly to our programs.

Dave sang a good number of his songs along with several of his newest ones that are featured in his latest album.

Dave has been heavily involved with Christian ministry for over 30 years. First, he was a youth pastor, then he added the music ministry to his repertoire and became a choir leader. He has been doing this current ministry now for 8 years. I don’t know when he first started singing for Young at Heart but it was before my time started here over 5 years ago.

I recorded a couple of videos of his music, so if you missed this concert, here’s one to watch.

Dave Harney–Rock of Ages Hide Thou Me

We also recorded the entire program. Listen, HERE.

Next month we will feature a new group for us. New Horizons, a senior citizens band, will bring their music to Young @ Heart. They are associated with the University of Dayton and they’re always looking for new talent. If you are interested, check out the Continuing Education Department at UD! More importantly, come and join us for our February Luncheon. This will make a great Valentines program!

It’s a Wonderful Life – La Comedia

This play at La Comedia was also a Wonderful Musical! We took our Young at Heart Day Trip to La Comedia to catch this great Christmas program. Everything about this was perfect!

• For starters, our seating was great!
• The Buffet was outstanding
• The Musical was one of the best plays that I recall ever seeing at La Comedia.

We had a good group of Young at Heart people go with us for this special event. La Comedia always does a very good job for us. Therefore, La Comedia has become one of our favorite destinations for our Day Trips. Good thing; because we will go three times in 2013!

Our seating has improved significantly since we moved up to the section above the floor level. We can see better and the seating is more comfortable. All tables seat 2 or 4 people rather than the 8 people that we had down on the floor level, last year.

But, it isn’t about the seating; it is a about OUR people!

Of course, a big attraction to La Comedia is also the food! I personally thought the food was even better than normal.

… and service!

But of course, we also came to see the play/musical. “It’s a Wonderful Life!” Good overcame evil once again. The actor/singers did a great job. The finale with the singing of “O Holy Night” was outstanding and received a standing ovation.

For copyright purposes, we were not allowed to photograph of take video  during the program. However, we always get to meet the players after the play. This is a shot that I took of the lineup.

Well done, La Comedia!

Young @ Heart – Christmas Luncheon Program

This month we celebrated Christmas a little early with a very special program and special menu for lunch. I think everyone was very pleased with both the program and the food.

Our program started with a Piano / Organ duet Prelude by Grace Averitt at the Piano and Nancy Jensen at the Organ. Their music was well done but I’ll let you hear it here, too! 

Following this music, I did our normal opening material and jokes.

THEN! We were pleased to be entertained by the Carillon Brass. This group will be doing a similar program this weekend (Friday Afternoon) at the Loft downtown. All five of these brass musicians are also part of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, in addition to other duties and jobs such as teaching, etc. Our own Pastor of Worship and Music, Charlie Pagnard did most of the talking and played Trumpet.

Oh, that’s right, they are a Quintet, that means 5.  So here are the other 4. These included a French Horn, another Trumpet, at Trombone, and a Tuba!

I’ll include a couple of YouTube links so you can actually see and hear these men in action:

Carillon Brass at YAH

Carillon Brass at YAH - Dec. 11, 2012 (More Video)

Now, you can also listen to the entire concert HERE.

Finally, if this isn’t enough, we had a fantastic lunch! Last month we had everyone vote on their choice for meals and the winner was – Ham, Potatoes, Fruit Salad, and Pie. Lisa chose the pie and I thought it was great, even though I had never had anything like it before. Egg Nog Pie!  Thank you Lisa and the kitchen and dining room staff for a fantastic Christmas meal!

Dayton Ballet @ the Mid-Day Arts Café - Schuster Performing Arts Center

Today, our Young at Heart Group attended an excellent program at the Schuster!  I never thought I would enjoy the ballet but this program was a lot of fun.

We started with a nice box lunch. Then, as we continued to eat, two ballerinas from the Dayton Ballet provided a very good ballet demonstration. The ballet was performed by Marcia Hetrick and Annalise Woller. The ballet was "Two Sisters”, in honor of Miss Josephine and Hermene Schwarz. These sisters were pioneers of ballet in Dayton.

Following the performance, the girls and Karen Russo Burke, Artistic Director Dayton Ballet answered questions. I found this to be very educational and informative.  For example, a typical ballerina retires from performing around the age of 35. Then, they take up a second career, perhaps still involved in ballet, as is Karen.

Both Marcia and Annalise have college educations that they can use after their ballerina careers, if they choose.  They go through very rigorous exercises via activities such as Judo, Zumba, Swimming, Elliptical, etc. This is to keep all muscles exercised and joints limber. Both girls are 24 years old so they still have a few performing years ahead of them. They do a small number of programs a year (4 to 6) and about 4 performances each, except for the Nutcracker, which is 6.

After the program, one of the ladies took us on a short tour of the Mead Theater where the Nutcracker will be performed! I learned several interesting facts about the theater. There is a Star Field at the top of the huge room which is what was in the sky at the time the Wright Brothers flew at Kitty Hawk.  Also the distance from the back of the Upper Balcony to the back of the Stage is the same length as the First Flight.  I really like the way they incorporated some of our local history into the design. The Schuster will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary in 2013.

This was a very good program and we will certainly be planning similar programs involving the Schuster Performing Arts Center in the future.  Actually, the Carillon Brass (Dayton Philharmonic Brass Quintet) will be performing at our Luncheon program next month on December 11th at 11AM. Don’t miss it. This will be a great way to begin celebrating Christmas.

Young at Heart Luncheon – 13, 2012

This month we had a good turnout as we move toward Thanksgiving and Christmas with a special program highlighting “Elizabeth: A Time for Truth”. We also featured had more than our normal amount of special music along with the very special dramatic presentation by Geri Campbell.

Our music included a piano by Fred Scheffler and special vocal music with a Duet by Marlene Williams and Sandy Hayward (left photo below). Later, Alison Misere sang a solo to her son, Jacob (right photo). Actually, I think you can hear him helping, occasionally. This was a perfect segue to the dramatic presentation with Elizabeth and Baby John.

Geri Campbell played the part of Elizabeth. She wrote this dramatic presentation based on the Scriptural account of Elizabeth, the cousin of Mary and mother of John – The Baptist, from Luke chapter 1. She will also be performing this at the Creation Museum during their Christmas Season. However, this is the first performance of their season, a season premier!  You can hear her presentation HERE. However, just hearing doesn’t do it the justice that it deserves and what you would see with her in the proper dress, etc.  Geri did a very nice job and we’ll be having her back for other programs in the future. If you missed this, be sure to catch it around Christmas at the Creation Museum south of Cincinnati in Kentucky. Better yet, bring your family for a fun evening, there.

Of course, our luncheon program would not be finished without the great meals provided by Lisa Poe and our kitchen staff, servers, setup and decorating staff and other kitchen help. Thank you all for a fantastic job.

Next month, we will have another very special program on December 11, 2012 at 11AM. We will enjoy the music of Carillon Brass. This is a brass quintet by performers from the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. I had the privilege of hearing them as they did their rehearsal in our auditorium on Monday. We are in for a real treat! They will be performing a program that is about the same as they will be doing at The Loft, downtown. This performance will be sure to get everyone into the Christmas spirit. Be sure to join us and bring your friends.

Carillon Brass during Rehearsal

October Mystery Trip–October 11, 2012

Well, it isn’t a mystery anymore, is it!   Forty eight us took a very nice three hour drive to what is known as Scioto Furnace, Ohio. Folks, I didn’t make this up. Actually there is a town/village by that name nearby! We took a very scenic drive to Scioto Hills Baptist Camp grounds. They had prepared a great program and meal for us and the ambiance of the site was perfect for a cool fall day.

Now, isn’t this pretty! Very serene, too.
(Remember: Double click on the photos to see them full size)

Our program started with Camp Director Scott Bruns introducing us to the camp and what they do. Then, we enjoyed a nice meal served by the camp staff. After this, Scott had arranged for two singing groups to sing for us.  These were Joy Jones & the Jones Boys and also GOOD NEWS!

There were a total of 150 people there and we were a third of them!

Check the above photos out and see if you know anyone. That is Pat Warren above left in the maroon jacket. Above right is one of our tables, featuring several of our people including Rich McGhee and Allen Oaks!

Joy Jones and her sons

Joy is the sister of Mark Bales and Nancy Bales McGinnis, below. I believe she originally sang with the Good News, too.

Good News

Mark Bales – Nancy Bales McGinnis – Ray McGinnis

Good News of Portsmouth, Ohio have been singing Southern Gospel music since their inception in 1978. In September of 2003 they won the National Quartet Convention Talent Search. The group is comprised of three vocalists. Mark Bales plays lead guitar and shares a lot of the lead singing responsibilities with his sister Nancy Bales McGinnis. Ray McGinnis (Nancy's Husband) sings baritone and plays bass guitar.

Nancy writes most of the group's songs with Mark putting the music to them. Nancy has written over 125 songs some of which have been recorded by many well-known groups over the last 25 years.

Scott Bruns is also enjoying the music. I like the “All to the Glory of God” on the back of his shirt, too! Maybe that should be added to our “Team Shirts”!

All it all, this was a fantastic ending to a great day trip. We will definitely be planning another (not mystery) trip there.