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Everything Old Is New Again – The Return of Darryl Flinn to City of Flags
“Everything Old Is New Again” is truly what City of Flags Chorus is singing these days with the recent hiring of Darryl Flinn as front line director. The return of Darryl to Northeast Ohio brought an opportunity for him to renew acquaintances, make new friends and find his way back to the chorus he built into a champion 25 years ago. As the song goes, we were walking along, mindin’ our business…….and wonderful you came by……..the feeling was mutual as Darryl returned to City of Flags in July 2005 after coaching them to a fifth place finish in 2005 regional competition under interim director, La Donna Thomas. In 1966, Darryl Flinn assumed the position of director of the chorus after a last place finish in regional competition the previous year. Under his expert musical guidance, the chorus placed 9th in 1967. In 1971, Darryl found it necessary to step away as director and international quartet champion Connie Noble (Fanatix 2001) took over as director. When Connie headed to California in 1977, Darryl returned to City of Flags and the Darryl/La Donna partnership took them to a second place showing at regional competition in 1979. 1980 brought a first place championship for the chorus under their direction. 1983 brought the announcement that Darryl would again be departing City of Flags. He returns 22 years later with much enthusiasm, and in his words, “honored” to be back at the helm doing what he loves best – makin’ music. Darryl Flinn is a consultant to the Barbershop Harmony Society and is its immediate past Executive Director. He is currently on assignment to oversee the Music Man program, which aims to improve the musical product of all chapters through ongoing musical and administrative coaching. Retired in 2004, Flinn served eight years in the top position of the international society at SPEBSQSA headquarters in Kenosha, Wisconsin. As chief administrative officer of the 31,000-member nonprofit organization, he supervised operation of a 48-person staff and administered an annual budget of $6 million. Flinn has been a Barbershopper since 1949, and served as the Society's international president in 1987. He is a past president of Harmony Foundation, the Society’s official charity. Among his many services to SPEBSQSA through the years, Flinn chaired the Future II and Vision 2001 committees, which mapped out long-range strategies for the organization. Flinn also served the Society's Johnny Appleseed District as its president and international board member. This strong background as an administrator is combined with a lifelong passion for the barbershop hobby. Flinn is an accomplished quartet singer and chorus director, with three district championships and eleven international contest appearances to his credit. For more than 25 years, he directed the Canton, Ohio, Hall of Fame Chorus. He most recently sang baritone in 2001 seniors quartet champion Harmony, now retired. As an educator, Flinn's expertise is in great demand as a coach of top choruses and quartets. Flinn regularly serves as a faculty member at barbershop schools and at Harmony College, a week-long school that brings together more than 700 Barbershoppers annually. He has been a certified Singing judge for barbershop contests for more than 25 years. Flinn's professional background includes more than 30 years as a District Manager for State Farm Insurance in Stark County, Ohio, where he built and managed more than 30 agencies. His many accreditations include the presidency of the National Association of Life Underwriters, and presidency of the General Agents and Managers Association. Darryl and his wife, Meredith, reside in North Canton, Ohio. |
