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Campaign Background |
Pete Retires, Singing Lions in Jeopardy
In January 1999, Pete announced his retirement after fourteen years of directing the Penn State Singing Lions. Dr. Richard Green, director of the School of Music, has yet to name his successor. There are approximately fifteen current Singing Lions who want to continue with the group. But as they prepare for finals at the close of spring semester, they don't even know if they will exist in the fall let alone who will lead them and when they will meet.
Yac Pleads for Help
During the spring show on Sunday, April 25, 1999, Robert Yacyshyn (Yac), the Singing Lions current president, requested that alumni and friends help save the Singing Lions. This web site will help us do just that. This is the place to get names and addresses and ideas of what we can do to ensure the Singing Lions continue strong into the year 2000 and beyond. You can also see copies of letters that alumni and friends have sent to Dr. Green and university president Graham Spanier. Please send Marty Egna ( m.egna@worldnet.att.net ) (SL 1987 -90, president 1989-90) a copy of your letter so he can post it here. We must keep a record of support as the Campaign to Save the Singing Lions advances. We must be able to say to the decision makers: "here, look at this outpouring of support."
Remember What We are Fighting For
All Singing Lions alumni know the countless hours we rehearsed and prepared for shows, the Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, the Saturday mornings, the marathon shows at the stadium in the fall to break us in, the endless bus rides, loading in and loading out, the silliness, the exhaustion, the quote boards, the Red-Skelton-the-show-must-go-on injuries, the exhilaration of an appreciative crowd in the palm of our collective hand, the 9 AM school assemblies, teaching high school students choreography from Ray's Rock House and Sing, Sing, Sing during workshops, performing for alumni chapters around the country, the audience members who let us stay at their homes (where we still had to be "on stage"), the hotels (where we could finally relax), and of course keeping big band swing alive during the new wave 80s and alternative music early 90s. Can you even imagine, after the struggle and joy of one or two seasons as a Singing Lion, someone telling you that it all might end--that the school just doesn't care enough about your hard work and your rejuvenation of Penn State pride for tens of thousands of Penn State alumni over the years.