Raymond teen sings her way to Nationals - By Michelle Libby

Suzanna Butterfield recently spent a week in Nashville, Tenn. at the 2014 All National Honor Ensemble sponsored by the National Association for Music Education concert, where she sang at the Grand Ole Opry with 350 of the country’s best vocalists. 
 

Suzanna, a sophomore at North Yarmouth Academy (NYA), takes as many music classes as she can. “I spend all day at the music building,” she said. She participates in varsity singers an a capella group, Treble, an all-girls group, mixed chorus and wind ensemble (band). After school she practices to get ready for upcoming shows. 

For Nationals she had to memorize all six of her songs including a 25-page song. Each song had special notes from the director that she had to incorporate into the song she was learning with her voice coach.

“It was grueling what they put her through,” said Kathleen Butterfield, Suzanna’s mom. 

Suzanna moved to Maine seven years ago with her mother to be closer to family, and for the education system that was lacking on Anguilla, a small island near St. Martin in the Caribbean. 

Here Suzanna has taken advantage of every opportunity playing softball on a travel team, basketball and volleyball. She took dance until this past year, when she had to give up something. In sixth grade at Jordan-Small Middle School Suzanna was in the school play. She takes voice lessons from Raymond voice coach Charlotte Neuberger, for which she pays for with her own money in Raymond. Neuberger was actually a guest at the Butterfield’s inn on Anguilla before they moved to Maine.  

 

Suzanna also plays the clarinet and qualified for districts all through middle school. 

“She’s always been singing since she came out of the womb,” said Kathleen. 

Getting to Nationals wasn’t an easy task. Suzanna tried out for the district chorus first. After making that she tried out for All State, which was “a big deal,” according to Kathleen. Suzanna had to prepare one vocal piece and sight read music during her tryout. She spent three days at the University of Maine at Orono before the performance. 

The choral director at NYA, Nora Kranis, said that since she had made all state, she was able to try out for Nationals. Suzanna used the same audition piece she used for states. 

When the word was out about who had made Nationals, Suzanna heard nothing. Her friend said congratulations on Nationals, but Suzanna thought she was talking about softball. 

 

“For a day and a half, we weren’t sure. All my friends were so supportive,” she said. 

“She was one of the youngest there. It was mostly seniors and juniors,” said Kathleen. There were six other singers from Maine in Nashville. “There were 50 second sopranos. The logistics of doing what they did was mindboggling,” Kathleen, who traveled with Suzanna, said. 

They two went down to Nashville a day and a half early, so they would have time to sight see. 

“We were practicing 10 hours a day,” said Suzanna. “I learned so much, all really technical things, breathing, support and how to sing the values. I learned about the way they carried themselves,” she said of the older singers. 

Her favorite part of the trip was singing with people who were amazing singers, she said. “I love to be able to sing with people who are better than me.”

As far as her musical future, she’s not sure which path she’d like to take. 

“I also learned that I really, really love to sing. I definitely want music to be in my life.” Since she’s only 15, she hasn’t had to make definite career plans. 

Suzanna was impressed with the dedication that the singers had to their craft. She said she doesn’t always encounter that in some of her groups. “There was no judging.” 

When Suzanna arrived at the Grand Ole Opry, she entered the theater through the artist’s entrance. “I thought of all the people who have sung here and thought, I’m going to be a part of this,” she said.  

When asked if she’d try out again, “I’d do it again in a heartbeat. It was an amazing experience.”

When at home in Raymond, Suzanna enjoys ice skating, skiing and snow tubing. She also visits her “Mema and Grampa” every weekend, who are very supportive of her music. 

Suzanna brought back from Nashville a desire to go to Nationals again next year and a pair of brown fringed cowgirl boots.

Local residents turn out in large numbers for several hotly contested races and issues - By Michelle Libby

Election polling stations in Windham and Raymond were well attended and citizens were voting for a variety of reasons, according to exit polls. 
 

“It’s our civic responsibility – that’s what makes our country tick,” said one voter about why she came out to vote. 

In Windham there were 7,782 voters, which means 65 percent of registered voters voted.  Many voters, 2,266, chose to vote absentee in Windham. Absentee ballots had to be delivered by 8 p.m. to the town clerk. Four years ago, for the last gubernatorial race, 612 fewer voters voted. This year there were 611 newly registered voters, said Windham town clerk Linda Morrell. 

In the only contested local Windham race, incumbent Thomas Gleason defeated David Lydon.

At the Raymond polls, residents voted 1,324-940 to spend $20,000 to explore what it would cost and look like to disband from RSU14. Sixty percent of voters voted in Raymond for a total of 2,350 including the absentee ballots, according to Raymond town clerk Sue Look. 

In Raymond, Susan Collins, Paul LePage, Chellie Pingree, William Diamond and Michael McClellan won by large margins. In district 67 representative race, Bonnie Titcomb Lewis beat out Susan Austin 292-268 with 31 votes left blank. 

“I came out to vote for Bill Diamond. He always came into my school and that stuck out in my mind,” said Kayla DiRenzo. 

In Windham, Susan Collins, Paul LePage, Chellie Pingree, William Diamond, Mark Bryant and Patrick Corey won their elections. 

Nate Schrock came to vote because of the governor’s race. “I feel like it’s time to move ahead with stuff that’s based in reality. People are ready to work together. There’s been a history of quotes not based in fact that’s gotten people worked up.”

“It’s my civic duty,” said Alexei Popov. “Governor is the most important (race) to me. There’s a lot of competition because I support one side more than the other.” 

New voters took the opportunity to register at the polling station. State Senator Gary Plummer’s granddaughter, Mariah, registered and voted for the first time. 

“I brought my son over to vote for the first time,” said Jim Cannon. “It’s important especially in this election because things are so tight and there are some issues that hit close to home. Minimum wage. Comments by LePage made about transgendered students not to be in our high school.”  

The bond questions in Raymond and Windham went the way the bonds did for the state except question 5, which voters said “no” to money to modernize and expand infrastructure in a biological laboratory. The bond did pass. 

Hannah Poland, voted because of her concern about question 1. “I voted no. It’s been a Maine tradition for a very long time. The bears will take over the population.” 

 

Official results for all Windham races can be found at www.windhammaine.org and Raymond results are at www.raymondmaine.org.

Don Campbell entertains to a full house - By Elizabeth Richards

On Saturday, November 1, 2014 Don Campbell & the Don Campbell Band presented An Evening of Dan Fogelberg to a full house, wrapping up the 2014 Music with a Mission season at the North Windham Union Church. 
 

Campbell circulated in the lobby prior to the show, welcoming concert goers with a handshake and a smile. His warmth and friendliness created a relaxed atmosphere that remained throughout the performance. The intimate atmosphere of the church created a feeling of connection and fellowship not found in larger venues.

The evening opened with Tom Dyhrberg, a member of the band, performing Gordon Lightfoot’s “Sundown,” followed by a selection of other songs by the Canadian singer/songwriter. Dyhrberg’s versions were very true to the originals and his voice so similar that it was almost like listening to Lightfoot himself. 

After Dyhrberg finished, Campbell took center stage to perform Folgelberg’s  hit “Make Love Stay” with just a guitar, before asking the band to take the stage for the rest of the show. Campbell told a story of being just 15 years old, and hearing the music of Dan Folgelberg for the first time. That changed his life, he said, and was when he first realized he wanted to be a songwriter. When the legendary performer passed away in 2007, Campbell knew he wanted to honor his influence by recording some of his songs. What resulted was a double CD, Kites to Fly. 

Campbell’s style is a perfect complement to Folgelberg’s music. He put his own spin on the songs rather than trying to mimic the artist exactly, resulting in a show that was unique and interesting, yet comfortable and familiar all at the same time. Campbell arranged a blend of top hits and lesser known songs  that were just right. This is a show that would please any Folgelberg fan, and very likely make a fan out of many who were not previously followers. 

Campbell’s admiration for Folgelberg was evident in every story he told. The non-profit organization he chose to benefit with this concert is the Maine Coalition to Fight Prostate Cancer. Prostate cancer is the disease that took Folgelberg’s life at the young age of 56. In addition to ticket sales, a special fundraising raffle was held as well, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the coalition. 

Music with a Mission committee chair Jim McBride and Minister of Music Dr. Rick Nickerson are pleased with how the series has evolved and the impact they have had to date. In many ways, said Nickerson, the second season was easier, and they are already looking forward to the 2015 season. 

McBride said the first year was a learning experience. “I think the community was open to the idea but not quite sure what to expect. They’ve come to understand that we’re bringing in really good quality acts, and it’s truly a community fundraiser.”  Before Saturday’s concert, the 18 concerts in the series to date had raised over $15,500 for the church and community causes. “Our church is thrilled to have people come through the doors and to be able to give back to the community as well,” said McBride. 

Attendance at the series has been good, even for acts without huge name recognition. Nickerson said “Over the past two years, one of the things we’ve learned is what the community wants. There are certain styles of music that they just love.”

McBride added that part of the fun has been mixing it up, rather than sticking with one genre of music. Bluegrass has been very popular, he said, and the committee is planning a really great bluegrass act in the 2015 lineup. The new season will begin in January 2015.

Windham Center Stage Theater trains the next generation of directors - By Michelle Libby

Windham Center Stage Theater (WCST) is known for training actors, singers and dancers both adults and children through its performances held in the gym at the Windham Town Hall. This fall WCST offers “Almost Maine”, a story about a town “that’s so far north, it’s almost not in the United States.” The play takes place one winter night in a town called Almost. The residents find themselves falling in and out of love with the characters in the play. 

The play, written by Mainer John Cariani from Presque Isle, will be directed by Windham’s own Allison Sample, who after graduating from Sesquehanna University with a degree in Physics, returned to play Sandy in WCSTs summer production of Grease before taking on the title director. 

“Everyone has experienced at least some of the emotions in the show and can connect with some of the scenes. There’s comedy and heart wrenching moments,” Sample said.  

Sample grew up in Windham and performed in many WCST productions. She also worked on plays at Windham High School. She directed short films, but this will be her first time directing a stage show. 

“It all happened in a bit of a whirlwind,” she said. Her plan was to propose a different show to direct for the spring, (Harvy) but when the call came that WCST needed a director, Sample stepped up. 

The cast she is directing has nine actors. She’s also receiving help from another WCST stars Giovan Corsetti and one of Windham’s veteran directors, Rob Juergens.

“Casting was the worst part,” Sample said. She was limited in her pairings because of the cast she had, but she made it work with the help from Juergens. “It was good to have his insight during the casting.”

“(Cariani) is a Mainer. It’s not Downeast…it’s the county,” said Juergens. This show was a good opportunity for a new director because of the show’s flexibility, and low budget. He refers to himself as a consultant offering support when a new director questions herself.” 

 “It’s been a good group to have as my first directing experience,” she said. Sample admits that she doesn’t know all of the answers and she changes her find, but the cast is very flexible. 

The director is responsible for primarily what happens on the stage. “I like to let them run through the scene to see what they want to do before I make corrections. It’s more natural that way,” Sample said. The producer, in this show Laurie Shepard, works with more logistics and keeping the lines of communication open between all of the key people in the play. Juergens and Sample had a three hour meeting before casting the show to discuss the play, Sample’s vision and character development, Juergens said. 

“I enjoy seeing the scenes come together, Sample said. Her theater background also helps when it comes to working with actors. She knows things that will work and won’t work in a certain scene. With years of being up on stage and doing a lot of shows and working with directors she has stored up “What works for them” information. 

Juergens said that Sample will gain confidence as she goes along. “It’s an emotional piece you’re putting on stage. Have confidence that we did it and they’re going to like it,” Juergens said.   

Almost Maine has been easier to costume, she said. They asked people to go home and find their winter clothes to wear on stage. The set was created by Sample’s father, Sample and Corsetti. 

WCST is run by a board of directors and Sample said that they are a little nervous about debuting a new director, but they are very supportive of what she needs.  

The most important thing is for the audience to “feel good about it in the end. It’s really a fun show, although really emotional. It’s not a show you’ll leave down trodden.” 

Sample hasn’t decided what she wants to do with her degree in Physics, but “nothing is off the table at this point,” she said. 

WCST encourages new directors, new actors and want the community involvement in all of their productions. 

The show opens on November 7 and runs for two weekends. For more information, visit www.windhamtheater.org. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors at the door

ALMOST, MAINE: It’s love. But not quite.