Romanza-St. Augustine, Inc.
Official Newsletter
October 14, 2016
Pat Syeles, Editor
IN THIS ISSUE:

Romanza's November Gathering 
at Amici's Restaurant
Tuesday, November 8, 5:00-7:00 PM
********************
OCTOBER FIRST FRIDAY CONCERT AT CATHEDRAL BASILICA RESCHEDULED TO OCTOBER 16
********************
The St. Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival 
VOTED BOLD CITY BEST EVENT/CONCERT IN THE JACKSONVILLE AREA!
and
BEST FESTIVAL/EVENT IN SAINT AUGUSTINE!
********************
Attention Romanza Members:
October is Time to Elect Romanza's Board of Directors
********************
2017 St. Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival News
********************
Recap of the October Gathering
AND
Links to Upcoming Arts Productions and Events
********************

CONCERT RESCHEDULED
 
"THIS PRETTY PLANET"
Sunday, October 16 @  7:00PM
Cathedral Basilica, Downtown St. Augustine
Admission is FREE
 
The October First Friday Concert (originally scheduled for October 7 at 6 pm) at the Cathedral Basilica was, as you know, CANCELLED due to Hurricane Matthew.   The concert has been RESCHEDULED for Sunday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m. 
 
The concert entitled "This Pretty Planet" will feature the St. Augustine Chamber Singers, directed by Kathleen Vande Berg and the St. Augustine Youth Chorus, directed by Kerry Fradley.  The concert will be presented by over sixty singers and accompanied by Barbara Mattingly and Henry Keating with instrumentalists Joe Yorio on clarinet and Jack Miller, percussionist.

The concert will include songs extolling the beauty of the earth as well as those concerning stewardship of the earth and its resources.  Poetry by Langston Hughes, Edna St. Vincent Millay and Archibald Lampman will be sung in settings by contemporary composers.  Eatnemen Vuelie, Song of the Earth, which was featured in the movie, Frozen, will be performed featuring the Scandinavian musical expression, yoiking.  A concert highlight will be the klezmer favorite, Gonna Get Through This World, by Woody Guthrie featuring klezmer-style clarinet and a refrain for everyone to sing.
 
One song in particular, "Requiem," by Eliza Gilkyson, was written following the devastating tsunami in Indonesia in 2004.  The line "All our homes are gone" from the song is particularly poignant following the damage our community has sustained following Matthew.  It is an appeal to Mother Mary to console us in our time of loss and is a beautiful piece.  It will hopefully bring some healing to us all. 

Join in this celebration of our world on October 16 at this free concert at the Basilica.  An offering will be received to help defray concert expenses.
LOGO-Romanza Monthly Gatherings
NOVEMBER GATHERING AND 
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Please join us Tuesday, 
November 8 from 5:00-7:00 PM at Amici's Restaurant, 1915 A1A South, St. Augustine Beach

LOGO_Amici's Restaurant

This networking event is open to ALL individuals and cultural organizations, members and non-members alike. As always, members attending the Gathering are invited to announce their upcoming events. And members are cordially invited to bring a friend.
These mixers are a unique and comfortable opportunity for the creative community to socialize, communicate and share ideas and information. You'll meet fascinating people from St. Augustine's Arts, Culture, Heritage, Attractions and Business organizations.

November is also our Annual Membership Meeting where the newly-elected Romanza Board of Directors are inaugurated.  
(See below for information on Romanza member voting for the Board October 1-31)

We hope to see you there!

EVENT INFO:
When:  Tuesday, November 8, 5-7 PM
Where:   AMICI'S RESTAURANT
             1915 A1A South
             St. Augustine Beach, FL 32080

 Complimentary hors d'oeuvres will be provided and a Cash Bar offering selections from Amici's full bar will be available.

For more information visit 

LOGO-Romanza Monthly Gatherings
RECAP OF OCTOBER GATHERING

Our sincere thanks to Jaybird's Restaurant for hosting our October Gathering on their first day open after the Hurricane!
Jaybird's Logo

Although the turnout was smaller than usual (to be expected with everyone still recovering from the storm), those who did come enjoyed the yummy hors d'ouevres that Jaybird's bountifully supplied.  

And as always, everyone shared information on their organization's upcoming events, which was an amazing list of what's to come!  

Jorge Rivera of FirstCoast.TV, who provided such great coverage of our town during the aftermath of the hurricane, remains devoted to promoting arts, culture and heritage in the community by covering events in and around St. Augustine.

Michael Mann of the St. Augustine Community Band let us know that t he 70-member group will kick off its second season with a Fall Concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Pacetti Bay Middle School.

Nancy Perry of First Coast Opera told us of their upcoming production of "Mario Lanza-Hollywood Tenor" coming to The Lightner Museum on October 28 and Flagler Playhouse on October 29.

Ken Kinnecom reminded everyone that The St. Augustine Shrine Club Chowder Challenge for Children (formerly known as the Great Chowder Debate) has been relocated to the Amphitheatre and will be held October 30 from 12-4 PM.

Ashlee Raven told the group about a new event, the  Lincolnville Porch Fest.  This free event includes six beautiful Lincolnville porches and nearly 40 of your favorite local bands from noon-9 p.m. on November 12.

Anne Kraft and Jean Rahner of A Classic Theatre filled us in our their upcoming productions, including "Voices of the Dark and Classic" coming to the Pioneer Barn on November 18.

Talented Spanish guitarist Dennis Fermin announced that he will be premiering a new CD soon.  You can catch Dennis performing at many popular venues around town, and get a sneak peak of the new CD at 

Jim Vande Berg of Compassionate St. Augustine told us about their initiative "Charter for Compassion".  Your group or organization can sign on to be a part of this network   to bring an awareness of compassion and compassionate action to everything we do as we interact with other people and with our environment.  Just visit their website to sign up.

Romanza Board members Albert Syeles, Kathy Vande Berg, Anne Kraft and Pat Syeles updated everyone on planning progress for Romanza's upcoming events:  The St. Patrick's Day Parade March 11, 2017, The Celtic Music & Heritage Festival March 10-12, 2017 and St. Augustine's Romanza Festivale of the Arts, May 5-14, 2017.






FOR MORE INFORMATION on any of these events to come, just click on the green links above.

THANK YOU AGAIN, CELTS!!

THE ST. AUGUSTINE
CELTIC MUSIC & HERITAGE FESTIVAL 
was voted 

BOLD CITY BEST EVENT/CONCERT IN THE JACKSONVILLE REGION!


as well as
THE BEST 
ST. AUGUSTINE FESTIVAL/EVENT!


Our sincere thanks to all of you who voted for us.

We look forward to seeing you all March 10-12, 2017  for the 7th Annual Celtic Music & Heritage Festival!

WATCH FOR THE BLACK FRIDAY VIP TICKET SALE NOVEMBER 24 THROUGH NOVEMBER 28 ONLY
Purchase TWO VIP Tickets for $85 
(a $35 savings!)



2017 CELTIC FESTIVAL NEWS:


Performers for the 2017 Celtic Music & Heritage Festival include:

ALBANNACH










DUBLIN CITY RAMBLERS


SEVEN NATIONS












EMISH


 
























THE REAL McKENZIES


STAY TUNED AS MORE PERFORMERS ARE ADDED TO THE SCHEDULE!

In addition to the great music, there will be the Highland Games athletic competitions, Celtic Clans, Celtic Food & Merchandise Vendors, a Kids' Zone, and more!
 
ATTENTION ROMANZA MEMBERS:
 
BOARD ELECTIONS THIS MONTH!

The nominees have been selected by the Membership and October is the time for Romanza Members to cast their votes for the Board of Directors.  V
oting ends October 31.

Each Individual or Family Member may vote for up to 5 different candidates.  
Each Organization or Business Member has 2 representatives who are entitled to vote.  Each organization/business representative may vote for up to 5 different candidates.
 
Please email your votes to any one of the members of the Election Committee before  October 31:
   
Sharon Foy Baird   [email protected]

Doni Dowie [email protected]   or

Ken Kinnecom   [email protected]
      
Nominees for the Romanza Board of Directors are:
 
Albert Syeles
Albert is a Romanza Co-Founder & President and a Board Member since 2009.
He also serves on the Committees for the Celtic Music & Heritage Festival and St. Augustine's Romanza Festivale of the Arts.  Albert is a retired Executive Director of SBC Communications (now AT&T).  In his spare time, he is a film score composer/music director, songwriter & recording artist

 
Kathleen Vande Berg
Kathleen has been a Romanza Board Member since 2011. 
She has also served as the Chair of St. Augustine's Romanza Festivale of the Arts Committee since 2014.
Kathy has been active as the Conductor of the St. Augustine Community Chorus, the St. Augustine Singers, the Flagler College Singers, interim Music Director at St. Paul's by the Sea, Jax Beach, and accompanist and Music Director for First Coast Opera.
 
Anne Kraft
Anne has been a Romanza Board Member since 2012 and also serves as Romanza's Membership Chair and a member of the Romanza Festivale Committee.  Anne is a co-founder of The Limelight Theatre and also served as Treasurer of the St. Augustine Community Chorus from 2010-2012.  Anne is currently a member of the Limelight Theatre Advisory Board (2006-present) and Vice President/Treasurer of A Classic Theatre (2009-present). 
 
Pat Syeles
Pat has been a Romanza Board Member since 2014 and has served as Romanza's Secretary and Treasurer since 2011, as well as Romanza Newsletter editor and publisher.  She is the Finance & Administration Director of the Celtic Music & Heritage Festival.  Pat is a retired estate planning and administration paralegal.

Lisa McPhillips
Lisa's company, Lisa Mack Productions, has been creating high-quality, professionally produced entertainment events in St. Johns County since 1998. In addition, she is a talented performer. Lisa has served as the Production and Stage Manager of the St. Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival since 2012.  
 
Ashlee Raven
Ashlee is the owner and founder of Raven Promotions and Social Media, which she established here in 2013. Her expertise in the social media field enables her to connect with and promote a wide range of local businesses that include restaurants, art galleries, musicians, and artists.  Ashlee also hosts cutting-edge art shows and events that bring a new, exciting energy to St. Augustine, the nation's oldest city. 

The newly-elected Board of Directors will be inaugurated at the Annual Membership Meeting to be held on the second Tuesday of November at Amici's Restaurant.