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We are pleased to announce the kick-off of the ESU's National Shakespeare Competition! Schools in our region may enter now, giving students the opportunity to compete in the Syracuse Branch Competition. The winner of the branch competition will travel to NYC to compete in the national finals at Lincoln Center!
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May 13
Our 75th Year Celebration
Conducting Speaker: Christian Capocaccia, Artistic Director, Syracuse Opera Company and Tri-Cities Opera in Binghamton
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The May meeting was a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Syracuse Branch of the ESU, complete with a cake and champagne toasts to our 75 years, to the office of the President of the United States, and to King Charles III.
Our speaker, introduced by member Judy Carpenter, was Christian Capocaccia, Artistic Director of the Syracuse Opera Company. Maestro Capocaccia, born in Rome, studied at its Conservatorio Santa Cecelia and in the U.S. at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. He is renowned all over the US and Europe and has been recognized by the New York Times for his energy and musical expertise. He explained the nuances of directing an opera versus directing a symphony orchestra, and he shared that his favorite opera is Tristan and Isolde. We are glad that he and his family have made Syracuse his home.
When our April speaker was unable to make the meeting, our inimitable and quick-thinking Dori Parker saved the day by introducing each member present and asking each one to say a few words. We all contributed and ended up with an interesting, sometimes humorous, often informative, and thoroughly unique April meeting. Pictured below are our "speaker" members preparing their extemporaneous remarks.
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Member JoAnn Wallace introduced our speaker Les Rose, Professor of Broadcast and Digital Journalism at SU's Newhouse School, whose presentation was entitled "Behind the Lens." Professor Rose was a photojournalist for CBS News and covered many major events such as 9/11 in Shanksville PA, civil wars in Nicaragua and El Salvador, the LA Riots, and numerous worldwide disasters and events along with major sports events, celebrity interviews, and many more assignments, earning several awards along the way. He entertained and delighted our members with stories both humorous and serious about his 30 years in news broadcasting.
February's topic was Celebrating Shakespeare with speaker Matt Phillips, Shakespeare Competition Advisor, Jamesville-Dewitt High School. Mr. Phillips has long been active as an advisor in the annual high school Shakespeare Competition, along with teaching courses in English, drama, film, journalism, creative writing, and Syracuse University's Project Advance.
Mr. Phillps, introduced by Syracuse ESU's Shakespeare Competition co-chair Barbara Weller, demonstrated that a cold reading of a Shakespearean play is not the most effective way to improve student understanding of Shakespearean language. To illustrate this, he distributed copies of a brief scene from Much Ado About Nothing for an oral reading. Then he showed videos of five diverse interpretations of that same scene by separate professional actors. Those videos clearly improved our understanding of the wordplay between Beatrice and Benedict. At the conclusion of the presentation, everyone had a much clearer grasp of the relationship between the characters in that scene. (Thank you to ESU member Judy Carpenter for her photos and description of Mr. Phillips' demonstration).
We were also treated to a presentation of a monologue by Anka Chiorini, the 2021 and 2022 Syracuse Branch Regional winner and a finalist in the National Competition in New York City.
In January we were fortunate to host Shane Mahar from the NYS Canal Corporation. He was joined by Joell Murney-Karsten who deals with community and government relations through the Canal Corporation's Syracuse Regional Office Mr. Mahar spoke on New York's Canal System, informing us that "the New York State Canal Corporation operates and maintains four historic canals: the Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga – Seneca. Spanning 524 miles, the waterways link the Hudson River with the Great Lakes, the Finger Lakes and Lake Champlain, and connect hundreds of unique and historic communities across upstate New York." Attendees also learned about the Empire State Trail's Reimagine the Canals initiative and the free "On the Canals" excursions that attract thousands of people to the canal corridor each year. Pictured are Mahar, ESU member Shirley Cruikshank who introduced the presenters, and Murney-Karsten.
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A record number of attendees enjoyed our December luncheon and meeting. We were fortunate to have four members of the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble as our guests. Director J.T. (James) Spencer gave an informative introduction about brass bands in general and the SU Brass Ensemble in particular.
We learned that brass bands came into popularity in the United States after the Civil War, and any town of importance had its own band. Dr. Spencer, a chemistry professor at SU, explained not only the history of the bands but the science of brass instruments.
SU's ensemble consists of 35 members who are faculty, staff, and students at the University, along with Upstate Medical Center, and other musicians from Upstate New York.
We were treated to a holiday performance that included Dr. Spencer, along with Gary LaPointe, Professor of Supply Chain Practice; William Abdullah, SU graduate and area pharmacist; and Dickson Rothwell. A particular crowd-pleaser was a rendition of "Jingle Bells," with an added section written specifically for tuba.
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"Wonderful" was the word used to describe Gareth Fisher's talk at the Syracuse Branch's November luncheon meeting, especially among those who had visited or even lived in China for some time.
Fisher was introduced to the attendees by member Dorianne Parker.
Fisher, an Associate Professor in the Religion Department at Syracuse University, has closely tracked the growing interest in Buddhism since the repressive Communist regime which has made it the largest officially recognized religion in China today.
Fisher's audience obviously appreciated his firsthand reporting of practices in China today, those officially allowed as well as those conducted by lay practitioners without the State's sanction.
In response to questions, Fisher also updated the situation in Tibet, especially for those who had met the Dalai Lama.
Fisher co-edited "Buddhism After Mao: Negotiations, Continuities and Reinventions" and is currently working on another book.
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The Syracuse chapter of the English-Speaking Union has enjoyed dynamic speakers and each others' company this fall. The September meeting featured Rick Bunting, known as the "Roadside Naturalist." He enjoys sharing his love of nature (especially birds) through his photography and lectures.
Prior to showing us all how to follow our passions in retirement years, Rick served at the Chair of Music Education at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and served as the conductor of the Crane Chorus.
Joining Jim were also Joan Ragland and Maryanne Adams from the Onondaga Audobon Society.
In October we were pleased to have a presentation by Ryan Novak, the developer of the Chocolate Pizza Company in Marcellus, New York. Ryan graduated from Syracuse University, where he was the place kicker on the football team. He earned a degree in business studies at the Whitman School of Management. He began working at the small local store at age 15.
His strong work ethic and winning personality led to his purchase of the store at age 25, turning it into to an international company. Pizza and Wings are two of the 100+ chocolate products available from the company. He is pictured here with E-SU member Norma Ferguson.
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The Syracuse Branch of the English-Speaking Union finished its 2021-2022 season with the pleasure of hosting Evelyn Wrench speaker James Stebbings, introduced by chapter president Carl Borning.
James Stebbings with Alice Borning May
Mr. Stebbings spoke on Richard D'Oyly Carte, a theater icon in the late 19th century who established theaters and an opera house in London and was instrumental, along with his family, in promoting the careers of Gilbert and Sullivan. Mr. Stebbing's presentation, "A Very English Dynasty," was informative and entertaining.
May Meeting Subject Robert D'Oyly Carte
Previous to the May meeting, the ESU Syracuse Chapter met regularly this winter and spring with several excellent presentations.
Our December luncheon and meeting featured vocal students from Onondaga Community College and their director Lisa Miller in "OCC Sings for the Holidays" Member Marjorie Julian presented Associate Professor of Music and Sound Recording Coordinator, Lisa Miller.
January brought us George Cunningham who spoke about the life and poetry of Scotland's poet laureate Robert Burns in a program entitled "Celebrating Bobby Burns."
George Cunningham
Mr. Cunningham also entertained us with readings of Burns' poetry and with his own performance on the bagpipes. Mr. Cunningham was introduced by member Shirley Cruikshank.
George Cunningham and Shirley Cruikshank
JoAnn Wallace presented our February speaker, Len Fonte, a playwright and theater critic who calls Syracuse home. He spoke on the topic "Shakespeare and the Stage." Mr. Fonte has directed over forty productions and was accepted into the 2010 Kennedy Center Playwriting Intensive, a series of rigorous workshops.
Len Fonte and JoAnn Wallace
April brought us music and opera performer Colby Thomas. Ms. Thomas has performed worldwide, starring in several productions, including playing the role of Christine in Hamburg, Germany's, production of "Phantom of the Opera." She is an expert on American Musical Theater and is presently teaching, performing and directing at SUNY at Oneonta. She was introduced by member Alice Borning.
Colby Thomas and Alice Borning, April Meeting
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The Syracuse chapter of the English-Speaking Union continued to meet via Zoom through the pandemic but is now back to in-person meetings (with Covid safety precautions in place) with our traditional excellent luncheons, enjoyable social interactions, interesting conversations, and outstanding speakers.
Our October meeting featured Kathi and Dennis McCarthy, the directors of the St. Lawrence River Historical Foundation, who focused on shipwrecks in the waters of the St. Lawrence River and Alexandria Bay. They also described early underwater diving techniques featuring diving helmets and scuba gear, followed by the newest diving gear which enables divers to descend to 300 feet, 100 feet further than scuba divers. Member JoAnn Wallace (center) introduced them.
ESU member Marjorie Julian introduced our November speaker, Adam Sudmann, the Market Manager at Salt City Market, the new Food Hall and Public Market in downtown Syracuse that opened in January 2021. Mr. Sudmann was inspired by the diversity of people in Syracuse and their food cultures. He has helped new entrepreneurs begin businesses. So far the Salt City Market features food of Pakistan, Burma, Palestine, Vietnam, Somalia, and, closer to home, Savannah, Georgia.
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