• Director's 10th Annual Tunawards - 2018-2019 Season
  

" 80% of success is just showing up"  Woody Allen

Started as an annual event just prior to Thanksgiving of 2010, these awards were initiated by Music Director Bob Shami after receiving a suggestion from Chapter member Bryan Schmidt that delivering actual fish might be a way for Bob to show his appreciation of chorus member's efforts, as opposed to a Director's normal role of finding errors and trying to fix them. His choice to distribute these awards just prior to the Canadian Thanksgiving is a deliberate one. 

 

Why tuna?

We often say that on those occasions when the Director gives out compliments to the chorus, it is like distributing fish to trained seals. Bob took Bryan up on his suggestion and so was born the Tunawards, (pronounced Tune-Awards): the tradition of giving an actual can of tuna to those deserving special recognition.  114 cans of tuna have been awarded since the first TUNAWARDS in 2009/2010

 

Woody Allen was right!

The single most important thing a singer can do to improve his own success as a singer and the success also of the whole group, is to simply attend as many rehearsals as possible. And to attend with "purpose". That way, the improvements we make each week as a group are carried forward by the maximum number of singers. We don't have to spend as much time reteaching the ones who missed last week.

 

If we see ourselves as musicians, taking seriously our responsibility to the music and to one another, it begins by being a regular attendee at rehearsal to the best of our ability.  Tunawards are therefore mostly based on attendance-related achievements.

 

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TUNAWARD WINNERS - 2018-2019

 

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR TUNAWARD

Given annually to the first-year member who, in his first season, attends the highest percentage of the 45 scheduled chorus rehearsal events (i.e. not counting performances), with a minimum attendance of 75%.   It was too close this year to have just one winner!

• BARRY KIRKBRIDE - with 82% attendance in his rookie year, starting Sept. 2018

• RYAN GEICK - with 86% attendance, starting Jan. 2019

• JOE MICELI - with 100% attendance, starting Sept. 2018
  
  

• Honourable Mention to JACKSON REED with 80% attendance, starting Sept. 2018, until a school conflcit caused him to go on hiatus.

   

PERFECT ATTENDANCE TUNAWARD

Given annually to any member who, in the past year, achieved 100% attendance at all 45 scheduled chorus rehearsal events:

• GARY DEUMAN
  
  

• MIKE LUTHER
  
  

• JOE MICELI
  
  

• BOB SHAMI
  
  

BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT in ATTENDANCE TUNAWARD

Given annually to members who achieved the greatest improvement in their attendance compared to the previous year.  This usually means those whose attendance improved by 15% or more.

• STEVE BOUDAH - attended 52% of chorus events this year, an increase of 18%
  
  

PERSONAL BEST TUNAWARD

Given annually to any member who, in the past year, achieved his personal-best attendance of any year since record-keeping began in 2002.

• AL CARSCADDEN - with attendance of 89%
  
  

• BEN DEATRICK - with attendance of 91%!

• JESSE LETHBRIDGE - with attendance of 57%
  
  

• GARY VINCENT - with attendance of 84%

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT TUNAWARD:  THE BIG KAHUNA-TUNA!

 

2019 BIG KAHUNA TUNA - ART FINK

A special award, given at the Director's

discretion, to a member who has displayed extraordinary faithfulness and dedication to the chorus over many years.  A man who knows his music, and is aways willing to help his risermates

 

The 2019 winner of the

Big Kahuna-Tuna Tunaward:

• ART FINK
  

A 41-year member, Art has averaged 75% attendance since 2002 and continues to be a solid contributor to the bass section as both a singer and the bass section leader and teacher as part of the AFTER CLASS Teaching Group.  He always knows his music and is an inspiration to the entire chorus - the kind of solid chapter member at the core of any successful chapter.  That's worth at least a can of tuna from his grateful director!

 

Previous Big Kahuna-Tuna's:

• 2018 - AL CARSCADDEN
  
  

• 2017 - JIM DUNCAN
  
  

• 2016 - DOUG ILES
  
  

• 2015 - DANNY RAE
  
  

• 2014 - LAYNE HILL
  
  

• 2013 - JIM TOWNSEND
  
  

• 2012 - AL BROWN
  
  

• 2011 - DON WHITE
  
  

• 2010 - MIKE LUTHER

THE UNSUNG "GREATER-TUNA" TUNAWARD!

Awarded to a member whose extraordinary faithfulness and dedication often occurs mainly behind the scenes and whose contributions therefore may otherwise go unnoticed by the membership of the chorus at large. This award may not necessarily be awarded in any given year but in any year when a member steps up and makes a special contribution, such effort is recognized.

 

The 2019 winner of the UNSUNG "GREATER-TUNA" TUNAWARD:

• DAVID HARASYMIWDave Harasymiw - at the 2011 50th Anniversary Annual Show held March 26, 2011

 

A 23-year member, this tells but a portion of his contributions to the chorus.  He has served as Afterglow Chair for the past several years and has made extra efforts to keep up with his music, even requesting extra bari section practice time, despite his job frequently calling him to Canada's far north where he serves as a nurse in remote communities.  His dedication to his music, to the well-being of the chapter and to its members is absolute and so very much appreciated if seldom formally recognized.  He exemplifies the best qualities of chorus brotherhood. Congrats to Dave and a big thank you from all of us for your service and commitment to the Chapter!

 

Previous Unsung "Greater-Tuna's":

• FOLDO DELLA VEDOVA - 2018
  
  

• STEPHEN RUTTI - 2017
  
  

• ART FINK - 2016
  
  

• ALLAN TOIVONEN - 2015
  
  

• KEVIN COLLAR - 2014
  
  

• DON MYERS - 2013

Congratulations to all of this year's TUNAWARD winners!

 

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