TC AZ is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) Charity - AZ QCO Code 22218
Tremble clefs 1994 - 2025
Tremble Clefs grew from the ground up - that is from members of a Parkinson’s support group in Scottsdale Arizona in 1994. Karen Hesley, a speech pathologist at Scottsdale Memorial Hospital, had just finished a specialized training in Lee Silverman Voice Treatment. Frank Halpin, leader of the Parkinson’s support group, invited her to speak at a meeting.
Members were already singing around the piano after their programs. Sue Cardew played the piano. Sue had early onset Parkinson’s disease. When Karen Hesley met with the group, together they explored the idea of starting a singing group for people with Parkinson’s and thus Tremble Clefs was formed.
Founding members included: Frank Halpin, Ned Brooks, Vince and Faith Blenkle, Bob Jackson, Helen Williams, George and Ethel Goldstein, Warren and Janet Meter, Rosemary Aubin and Sue Cardew, the accompanist who devotedly played for the group for years, plus Karen Hesley. Very early on Bill and Delores Wheelock joined and in Bill the group gained an experienced conductor. Ned Brooks contributed the name “The Tremble Clefs.” Sue Cardew kept journals detailing activities of the Tremble Clefs.
March 18, 1997, Muhammad Ali’s visited the Tremble Clefs!
In 2001, Karen Hesley moved to California and the Tremble Clefs, meeting in Scottsdale’s Granite Reef Senior Center, continued on with a new director. Deanna Shipley took over from Karen; Robert Miller was now the accompanist. Ms. Shipley did not stay long. After her move, Karen Hesley established a Tremble Clefs in San Diego, the first of several in Southern California.
In Arizona in 2002, Kellie Walker, a music therapist, assumed directorship of Tremble Clefs. Kellie’s husband had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. This added to Kellie’s insight into the impact of Parkinson’s on a person and on the family. In Ethel Harris the group acquired an accomplished and talented accompanist.
October 2003, The Tremble Clefs, led by Kellie Walker, organized a trip to San Diego to visit Karen Hesley.
During these years, under volunteer Don Dotts's leadership, the group received grant funding from a variety of organizations, including the William L. and Ruth T. Pendleton Memorial Trust and the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. Don Dotts had a long successful career at ASU and was active on the boards of several organizations. His connections, expertise and hard work paid off in obtaining continuing financial support for Tremble Clefs.
Since its beginning, members of the group, along with their families and friends, contributed money to support Tremble Clefs. Aside from professional music therapists and accompanists, all the work was done by volunteers.
In 2008, the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center contacted Ms. Lee to establish a music therapy group for people with Parkinson’s in Sun City. Sun Joo Lee had just graduated from Arizona State University with two Master’s degrees, one in Vocal Performance and one in Music Therapy. March 5, 2008, under Ms. Lee's direction, the West Side Tremble Clefs held their first meeting in the Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church, Sun City. Five people attended that first meeting.
In November 2008, when Kellie Walker stepped away from that position, the Original Tremble Clefs invited Ms. Lee to become their Music Director.
Founding members of the West Side Tremble Clefs were: Jim & Mary Cogan, Wyman Andrus, Inga & Bill Doherty, Beth Lee, Richard "Mac" McConnell and Sun Joo Lee. Don Dotts leader of the Scottsdale group was most helpful. Beth Lee has written about the group's early days in the "Singers and Songs" where she writes about her own and Gregg Owens roles in the Sun City choir. Richard “Mac” McConnel was the talented accompanist for this Sun City group.
April 18, 2012, Tremble Clefs combined to sing “The Star Spangled Banner” opening a major league baseball game at Chase Field, Phoenix. Sun Joo Lee directed.
Tremble Clefs groups in the Southwest held three workshops. Participants gathered from different groups to sing, learn vocal strategies, exchange information and ideas and learn from experts as well as from each other.
Thanks to the initiative of Ms. Lee, in May 2014, a workshop was held here in Phoenix. The two Arizona Tremble Clefs cosponsored a “Music Therapy Retreat” which had 152 in attendance. Sun Joo Lee organized and implemented this conference. She was aided by members of a committee formed by volunteers from both of Arizona’s music therapy groups.
Thanks to the leadership and initiative both Jim Histand (Sun City) and Don Dotts (Scottsdale) in 2018 a milestone was reached as the two choral groups incorporated as “Tremble Clefs Arizona” to be managed by a Board of Directors from both choirs.
In May 2018, the organization was granted non-profit status by the IRS.
The first Directors of Tremble Clefs Arizona were: Dave Briscoe, Don Dotts, Jim Histand, Sun Joo Lee, Kevin Riley, Donna Rosenheck and John Sylvester.
May 15, 2019, Tremble Clefs Arizona sang “The Star Spangled Banner” opening a major league baseball game at Chase Field, Phoenix. Sun Joo Lee directed.
Tremble Clefs continued to grow. In 2019, thanks to the work of Kirk Hall of the West Side group, Tremble Clefs Arizona received a community grant from the Parkinson’s Foundation for the purpose of starting two new Tremble Clefs groups in Maricopa County. Ms. Lee located one group in Sun Lakes (south east Maricopa County) and the other in the north west of the county.
In July of 2019, Donna Rosenheck, a Director on the Tremble Clefs Arizona Board, met with a high school teacher & administrator, Lisa Dailey, to develop a website for Tremble Clefs Arizona. Ms. Dailey volunteered to help the group. The .org website was located on GoDaddy. From that beginning, Ms. Rosenheck continued as webmaster and focused on keeping it current, accurate and informative.
In 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Tremble Clefs Arizona ceased in person meetings. Thanks to Sun Joo Lee music therapy sessions continued on Zoom. There were 4 Zoom meetings a week. In August of that year a twice-monthly e-newsletter was established by Donna Rosenheck.
August 6, 2020, Tremble Clefs Arizona received a letter from the State of Arizona Department of Revenue stating that it is a Qualifying Charitable Organization, thus eligible for what is commonly called the “Arizona Tax Credit Program.”
Members of the South East music therapy group - Libby and Jerry D’Adamo, Chris and John Volz and Kathy and Rocky (Ardo) Junk had decided to form their own group in Mesa at the Venture Out RV Resort.
2021 - 2022
May 1, 2021, Sun Joo Lee informed the TCAZ Board that she would be attending the University of Iowa in Iowa City to study for a PhD. At the same time, she would continue to administer and be part of TCAZ. She stated music therapy would be delivered by two music therapists Kiersten Hillman and Weisai Sun from her company Sunshine Music Therapy, LLC. Over time, changes would occur in directors, however Ms. Lee would continue to work for her PhD and work for TCAZ.
In July 2021, thanks to the efforts of Sun Joo Lee, TC AZ received a grant from the Parkinson's Foundation to start a new group in Mesa. Subsequently the Mesa Tremble Clefs would also received two generous donations from the Venture Out Foundation. The Mesa group is seasonal: November through March.
In January 2022, Tremble Clefs began a return to meeting in person and also continued with two online Zoom meetings. TC AZ experienced a dramatic loss of members during the pandemic. Members of the North West Group merged into the West Side group.
The South East group renamed Sun Lakes Tremble Clefs continued with fewer members. It scheduled meetings twice monthly, instead of weekly.
In December 2022, Tremble Clefs Arizona were surprised and delighted to received a $1,000 donation from a Charitable Family Foundation in Maricopa County for use in 2023. It was unsolicited. Their announcement letter said in part: ". . . family foundation established to support non-profit organizations that make our community a better place to live."
2023
In July 2023, Congresswomen Debbie Lesko, Arizona 8th District, awarded the West Side Tremble Clefs with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for their "dedication and service to the community." That same month, the Sundial Men's Club, an active organization in Sun City, presented the West Side TC with a $5,000 donation. TCAZ continued to receive donations from private foundations and individuals which are much appreciated. It could not continue without donations and without volunteers.
2024 was the 30th anniversary of the founding of Tremble Clefs in Scottsdale in 1994. The year began with the happy news that the private family foundation donated $10,000 to Tremble Clefs Arizona. The funds were used to continue work to make our community a better place to live for those who are suffering from Parkinson's disease and their families.
2025
In 2025 Tremble Clefs Arizona received a wonderful $20,000 grant from that same private family foundation. It is much appreciated. May 16, 2025, TCAZ Music Director Sun Joo Lee graduated from the University of Iowa with a PhD in Music. She wrote: "Earning this doctorate degree was not a journey I walked alone. It was made possible by the unwavering support, encouragement and guidance of my husband Min and so many incredible people who have shaped my path."
There are currently four in-person music therapy groups meeting in Maricopa County: Original, West Side, Sun Lakes and Mesa. There is one Zoom music therapy in English and one Zoom music therapy in Korean.
A celebration concert for TCAZ is planned for November 15, 2025: "Ever Singing, Ever Strong: 30 years of courage, community and song to live with Parkinson's disease.”
- Written and revised by Donna Rosenheck
Scottsdale, August 2025
Note: Looking back since 2018, there have been changes in membership, music directors, accompanists, leaders of groups and members of the Board of Directors. Previous Board members include: Dave Briscoe, Dan Jilka, Libby D’Adamo, Kevin Riley and Ray Erlandsen. Current Board members, directors and accompanists are listed under "Leaders."
The above photo is of Tremble Clefs and Muhammad Ali in March 1997. At that time Karen Hesley was the Director and the group had a close association with the newly established Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center.
In 2021, Tremble Clefs Arizona received a community grant from the Parkinson's Foundation. The funds of the grant are earmarked for the establishment of a new Tremble Clefs in Mesa, Arizona.