The Vincibles
The Vincibles is an 11-member singing group with a unique history and purpose. Maxine “Dikkie” Schoggen wrote a musical play many years ago about aging, which was performed in four full presentations here in Nashville in 1996. Upon a suggestion from one of the cast members, Dikkie and Phil Schoggen re-assembled as much of the cast as they could – mostly friends and former colleagues who loved to sing – in 2002 and formed the Vincibles to perform songs from the play for any interested groups. All the songs address the joys and frustrations of aging, and the Vincibles view their performances as a public service. They generally perform about once a month, and it’s clear every member has a lot of fun doing it!

Maxine “Dikkie” Schoggen, 84, and Phil Schoggen, 86, have been married for 65 years and have four children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. They worked together in research psychology at Cornell University for many years, studying children’s lives and environments. Dikkie wrote the musical play from which all the Vincibles’ original songs are taken. Dikkie hopes to continue her songwriting, but a recent loss of hearing now prevents her from singing. Phil finds time for reading, writing, common cause politics, physical fitness, and volunteering in public schools to help children read better.

Dona Tapp, 74, first had the idea to offer performances of songs from Dikkie’s play to interested groups. “One of our goals for each and every performance is that our audience might have as much fun as we do!” she says. Dona has five children and 13 grandchildren. She is retired from 30 years of service as director of administration for Vanderbilt University’s Kennedy Center, but she continues to do freelance editing for Vanderbilt faculty grant applications and book and journal manuscripts.

Keith Clayton, 75, is a retired professor of psychology who, besides his love of music and singing, also enjoys art, golf, bicycling, and computers. He is originally from Coffeyville, Kansas, and has three children and four grandchildren.

Carl Haywood, 78, is a retired psychologist and Vanderbilt professor who enjoys piano playing and scientific writing. He is originally from Thomaston, Georgia, and has four children and two grandsons. “A highlight of my musical life was taking a course in choral music from the late Robert Shaw, and singing under his direction with the San Diego Symphony,” Carl says. He also recounts that during his time as a graduate student at the University of Illinois, he directed a choral group of other psychology students called “The Psychosingers.”  

Enid Katahn, 77, is a retired concert pianist and professor at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music. She and her husband, Martin “Dick” Katahn, have been married for 57 years and have two children. Enid stays active with walking, swimming, and Tai Chi, and she also enjoys cooking, reading, tutoring at a local school and adult literacy program. She also volunteers once a week at the Green Hills Library.

Jan Rosemergy, 63, and Dan Rosemergy, “ageless senior,” have been married for 34 years. They are guardians to an 18-year-old who is a son to them. Jan has for 30 years directed communications for the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, which is devoted to improving the lives of people with disabilities. Jan enjoys reading and writing, nature journaling, and yoga. Dan began his career in higher education administration and is currently a minister of the Greater Nashville Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Bellevue. He is also a member of the national Board of Directors of the Interfaith Alliance Foundation and Chair of the Interfaith Alliance of Middle Tennessee. He enjoys reading and writing, art, music and plays, Vanderbilt football and basketball, and hiking, physical conditioning, and golf.

Janet Davies, 74, is a native Tennessean originally from Chattanooga. She has one child, Connally, and one grandchild, Lillie. Janet is currently retired, and besides her involvement in music, she also enjoys needlework and quilting.

Jim McKanna, 65, is a retired Vanderbilt University medical cell biology professor. He and his wife, Vivien, have been married for 34 years and have two children, ages 28 and 25. Jim enjoys landscaping and building and sculpting with limestone and marble. He says he is especially proud of “Music City” for the talent, honesty, and warmth of its musicians.

Susan Logan, 54, is a Nashville native and office manager who in her spare time enjoys costume design and construction. She has been married to her husband, John, for 30 years. The couple has four daughters and one granddaughter.