ABOUT THE LONGMONT CHORALE
A Special Announcement for Our Local Student Musicians:
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Mission
Our mission is to…
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Artistic Staff
Read a brief bio about each of our artistic staff members
History
Did you know? The Longmont Chorale’s origins start back in the 1930’s
Singers
Our members span every musical skill, educational, and experience level from total beginner to advanced
Board of Directors
The Board manages the affairs of the Chorale. Read a little about each member
Volunteers
Our volunteers give their time, effort, and talents so we can keep singing for our community, and we are very grateful for their kind support.
Feedback
Find out what our members, our audience, and reviewers say about the Longmont Chorale.
2019 YOUTH VOCAL COMPETITION
Ryan, our 2018 High School Division winner
Important Information
The application Deadline is Wednesday, 10/23/2019 for the Youth Vocal Competition on Saturday, 11/9/2019.
We believe in investing in the future of vocal music. That’s why the Longmont Chorale supports young singers, encouraging them to sing with us, study classical vocal techniques, and participate in our Youth Vocal Competition.
The competition provides a performance opportunity for students as well as valuable feedback from three local music professionals who judge each student’s performance. This season’s competition will take place Saturday, November 9, 2019.
Youth Vocal Competition winners are selected from two categories: Grades 6-9 and 10-12. Our first, second, and third place winners receive a cash prize. Each of our first place winners have the opportunity to perform a solo at our December concert.
This season, we will have a third category: “changed male voices”, if we have 5 or more applicants in that category.
Haley, our 2018 Middle School Division winner
Support the Youth Vocal Competition
Help support the Youth Vocal Competition by making a donation or becoming a sponsor. Send us a message through the form below to inquire, or call us at (303) 651-7664.
Youth Vocal Competition
Saturday, November 9, 2019
at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
1330 S. Bross Lane, Longmont, CO 80501
Applications are due Wednesday, 10/23/2019
Download your Application Form by clicking this button:
Download a copy of the YVC Flyer by clicking this button:
Contact us about participating in or supporting the Youth Vocal Competition
MISSION
Our Mission
The Longmont Chorale provides and supports an open, non-auditioned community choir, enriching the lives of singers and patrons through the study, creation, and performance of beautiful choral music.
MEET OUR ARTISTIC STAFF
Scott Hamlin
Artistic Director
Scott received a Bachelor of Music from Biola University and a Master of Music from the University of Northern Colorado under the direction of Dr. Galen Darrough (director of the Longmont Chorale from 1990-2000). He has performed under renowned conductors, including Weston Noble, Roger Wagner, and many others. He also has served as Music Director in several churches, director of the Chorale Singers, Associate Pastor of Music and Worship at Calvary Church for 16 years, and accompanist for St. Vrain School District. Scott is starting his 13th season as Artistic Director of the Longmont Chorale.
You might notice that when Scott steps to the mic, he often is out of breath. He describes conducting as a dance requiring flexibility, strength, stamina, and the ability to stand for long periods without becoming stiff. And, it’s not just the physical aspects of conducting that take energy; remaining positive, enthusiastic, encouraging, and caring so much—these also are draining. Scott truly wants the emotions captured by the composer, experienced by the singers and accompanist, and flowing through his hands to inspire each of you in the audience.
Karen Main
Accompanist
Karen has top-notch credentials. She started playing at age 4 and eventually received her Bachelor and Master of Music Education degrees from the University of Colorado-Boulder, studying voice and keyboard. Over the years, Karen has been: a vocal music teacher at St. Vrain Valley schools; pianist for Longmont High Schools; accompanist for junior and senior high vocal clinics working with conductors from across the nation; an arranger; a director; judge and accompanist for Stars of Tomorrow for nearly 40 years. Currently, she is organist, accompanist, and co-director for the worship choir at LifeBridge Christian Church in Longmont.
So, why hang in there for over 30 years with weekly rehearsals and concerts all over the community? She says it’s the friendships, the love and support shown members who are going through a hard time, and the team effort to reach a great outcome. We are grateful.
MISSION
OUR HISTORY
1930's
of Longmont. Citizens had just voted out a City Council previously controlled by the Ku Klux
Klan and were trying to rebuild their city. Shantytowns appeared as families lost their homes in
the Depression. Not surprisingly, Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? was one of the top songs in the
U.S. So, how did Longmont respond? Not by giving in to those difficult times––certainly not the
25 singers who gathered together and raised their voices through the dark clouds in their first
performance of The Messiah at the Ahlberg Chapel. Every year thereafter, they invited more
singers until 1937, when they officially became The Longmont Community Choir, directed by its
founder, Mr. Albert James. They sang as Europe trembled, as Jesse Owens won a Gold Medal
under Hitler’s nose, as Amelia Earhart disappeared. When we look at what they created in that
menacing atmosphere, we can agree with the most popular saying of the day: “Well, I’ll be a
monkey’s uncle!” It was a treacherous decade,
But, they kept on singing….
1940's
into the 1940s. Longmonters reeled from the attack on Pearl Harbor, and 2000 local sons and
daughters marched into WW II. Sugar beet production became critical to the war effort. and
many Japanese Americans avoided internment camps by traveling to Colorado to work the beet
fields. Colorado was the only state to accept them. German prisoners of war were housed on the
corner of Kimbark and Third Avenue in the Great Western Sugar Company’s hotel, now The Inn
Between. Woody Guthrie captured the horror and the hope of the 40s with This Land is Your
Land––“As the fog was lifting, a voice was chanting: This land was made for you and me.” In the
40s, Longmonters danced to Sentimental Journey. The Chorale enjoys singing both of these
songs almost 80 years later. Food was rationed, soldiers were gone for years on end; it would
have been easy to dismiss the arts as a luxury. Arts and nonprofit groups struggle in the best of
times, so what did the Community Choir do in the tumultuous 1940s? They could have quit,
But, they kept on singing…
1950's
color TVs and HiFis. They could pick up a sport shirt at Penney’s for $1.98 and wear it to the
Longmont Pet and Doll Parade. The miraculous polio vaccine ended fear of that terrifying
paralytic disease. Horrified parents watched the Ed Sullivan Show as Elvis gyrated to Hound
Dog. In Longmont schools, children practiced Duck and Cover Drills, hiding under desks to
escape nuclear fallout. The Cold War was in full swing, including the specter of Big Brother.
There was some good news, too. The Space Race took off, and segregation became illegal in the
U.S. for the first time. The Community Choir had grown to 100 singers, with many original
members still singing. We haven’t located any remaining originals for our 80th Anniversary, but they truly are with us in spirit. We appreciate everyone who kept things going against
incredible odds. They could have given up,
But they kept on singing…
1960's & 1970's
assassination. But, there were Good Vibrations as well. In 1966, Longmont High School speech
teacher, Mr. Albert James, now conducted 140 community choir singers. Yes, that’s the same Mr.
James––founder of the Community Choir and namesake of Longmont High School Auditorium
where the Chorale later performed. That was pretty groovy. Also in 1966, Community Choir
members welcomed the brand new Longmont Symphony Orchestra to the local music scene.
The 1970s began in an uproar––first the shootings at Kent State and then a presidential
resignation. Vietnam divided us, Jonestown shocked us, the Munich Olympic massacre saddened us,
and Three Mile Island frightened us mightily. We even survived disco. The Community Choir
reflected the instability of the 70s as seven conductors took up the baton. While native son, astronaut
Vance Brand, soared above Longmont on the Apollo-Soyuz mission, singers raised their voices to
celebrate our nation’s bicentennial with another rousing performance of The Messiah.
They just kept singing…
1980's & 1990's
the direction of Raymond Harrison, whose talent and enthusiasm many of you enjoyed until his
retirement last spring. While parents scratched their heads trying to understand their
teenagers, the Chorale gained one bodacious accompanist, Karen Main. She still amazes our
audiences and us. Michael Jackson’s Thriller electrified the music world, but consider this:
between 1985 and 2016, Karen has missed only two rehearsals. That kind of commitment truly
is a thriller.
Musically, the 90s saw a pop music explosion, and the Longmont Chorale, under the
direction of Galen Darrough, exploded as well. Five groups––over 250 singers–– entertained at
concerts and local events. Longmont enjoyed the voices of the Chorale, the Children’s Chorale,
the Esprit Singers, the new Heartland Quartet, and the new auditioned group (now the Chorale
Singers.) In the 90s, the people of Colorado and the world were shocked by the tragedies at
Columbine High School and Oklahoma City. It’s no wonder the song, My Heart Will Go On, was a
top seller. But, as the Cold War faded from the headlines and Nelson Mandela was released from
prison, hearts were lifted once again,
And the Longmont Chorale kept on singing…
2000's & 2010's
turned its attention to Longmont’s new restaurants, music venues, breweries, and festivals.
There’s new vitality in Sugar Beet Town! In 2013, the Longmont Chorale spread some of that
Longmont joy when we toured the UK, singing in London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and small towns
along the way. As with the previous decades, there are serious challenges. In this, our new
millennium, we struggle to comprehend and prevent terrorism. Leonard Bernstein reminded us
that war, crime, terror–– these things must not silence the music; they must redouble our
devotion to it. This year, we honor the devotion of singers, conductors, and accompanists who
have kept the music coming for eight decades. This year, we also celebrate ten years with our
amazing and devoted director, Scott Hamlin. And, we thank you for 80 years of support and
appreciation of our music. With such loyalty,
How can we keep from singing?
* We acknowledge and appreciate the poem “How can I keep from singing” by R. W. Lowry
Our Singers
The Longmont Chorale is a non-auditioned community choir. Only simple pitch matching exercises, done privately with our Artistic Director, are required for entry.
This means that our members span all musical skill, educational, and experience levels, from complete beginner to advanced.
We are one of few nonauditioned choirs left in our area.
The Longmont Chorale is open for membership by singers of all ages, high school and up. It is not uncommon for us to have high school seniors and senior citizens singing together, side by side. To encourage student participation, we waive high school and college students’ dues, up to age 22.
If you’ve been away from singing for a while, or maybe you’ve never sung in a choral group like ours – join us!
You need not join for all of the concerts of the season. Join us for our first or second rehearsal for each concert cycle. Watch our website and Facebook page for announcements about your next opportunity to sing. You can also join our email list, using the signup boxes on the Home page and Contact Us page.
For more information about singing with the Longmont Chorale, please take a look at our Join page.
Bob Balsman
President
Bob joined in early 2007 for the Mozart Requiem performances. He sings baritone, with occasional tenor solos. Most enjoyable are the major works and other classical music we sing as well as opera. Bob works in IT, currently as a database administrator. What’s his hobby? Chorale! “When I find time, I enjoy playing my piano and taking voice lessons. Chorale has had a really big impact on my life. I even met my wife (Paula) in Chorale!”
Dale VanZant
Vice President
Dale has been in the Longmont Chorale for over 20 years. He sings 2nd tenor or what he calls, “failed Baritone.” It’s hard to tell he is retired. Dale is a pilot and member of the born-in-Tulsa tenors club – one of two members. To Dale, the Chorale means a chance to concentrate on music one night a week, leaving other cares behind, to make excellent friendships, and use his work skills in helping the Chorale. As ticket-meister, you often will hear Dale say, “You can’t sell ‘em if you don’t have ‘em!”
Deb Heller
Treasurer
Deb is a retired federal accountant who moved to Longmont from D.C. the end of 2011. She sang with the two pops choruses prior to moving here and joined the Longmont Chorale for the March 2014 performance of Carmina Burana with the LSO. She sings second alto and generally prefers pops music, but enjoys singing the variety offered by the Chorale. The Chorale offers both an outlet for her to sing but also to meet a great group of people.
Lorilynn King
Secretary
Lori was in the Chorale in the 1990s, then rejoined in 2012. She’s a 2nd soprano, but loves to learn all of the parts! She’s fascinated by the a cappella phenomenon (Pentatonix, Straight No Chaser.) Lori is in a master’s program at Regis University, studying Database Administration. She has experience as a professional accompanist and is also a professional quilter who has won international awards. “I love the Chorale because people there that love music as much as I do; we all have a common goal of producing beautiful music that feeds the souls of our audience as well as ourselves.”
Kiersten Jackson
Treasurer
Kiersten has been a member since 2010 when she moved to Longmont. She’s a 2nd Soprano and loves Madrigals and traditional Christmas music. Kiersten is a manufacturing mechanical engineer for medical. Hobbies? Trying to stay sane with 2 young children. LC is community to her – an opportunity to express her musical talents and creativity with like-minded people that she hasn’t found anywhere else.
Diane Boyle
Music Librarian
Diane, Librarian for the Longmont Chorale, is a native of Longmont. She is passionate about helping elderly and others live with dignity and independence at home, so she created Diane Boyle’s Homecare LLC. Diane has been a member of the chorale 39 or 40 years, back when it was called Longmont Community Choir. “The Chorale is my extended family and pushes me to become a better singer, Librarian, and person.” I belong to Kindred Spirits of the Rockies, a paranormal group who explores alternative levels of communication with deceased.
Ian Tinney
Historian
Ian has been singing 2nd Bass with the Chorale for about five years. What he likes about the Chorale and Scott’s selections is that the music is so diverse. Ian is retired, but he has been a graphic designer, silversmith and yacht carpenter. In his spare time, he plays 1864 rules baseball, is the Chair for the Historic Preservation Commission in Berthoud, and does volunteer work at Longmont United Hospital. “Singing with the Longmont Chorale has been like music therapy for me. While in the hospital in 2009, I lost my voice entirely. My speech therapist sang with me and made me remember how much I enjoyed singing. Now singing has become a very big part of my life.”
Kathryn Pirie
Guild President
Kathy has been in the Chorale for 30 years! She sings tenor. She likes pop and folk music, John Denver, the Carpenters. Kathy, now retired, was a Software Engineer and Personnel Manager for IBM. Her hobbies include travel, crochet, and Seek-n-Find Pillows for hospitals and foster children. She says, “The Longmont Chorale is a precious, safe place where I have learned much about vocal performance and have gained many friends.”
Cynthia Kulikauskas
Program Advertising Sales Assistant
Cynthia joined the Chorale in 2002 as an alto. Her favorite music is the kind you can sing! She teaches piano at home and also teaches general music education grades Kindergarten through 6 at Mountain Peak Private School in Longmont. Cynthia enjoys taking walks and riding her bike, and Zumba class. She also enjoys digging in the dirt when playing backyard gardener. ”Mondays are difficult when there’s no chorale practice! I look forward to my weekly dose of choral music with the Chorale. It feeds my soul.”
Board Openings
The Longmont Chorale Board of Directors is recruiting new members from our community. We offer the opportunity to support the performing arts in our community through the use of your talents. You need neither sing with the Chorale nor be a member of the Chorale in order to serve on the Board of Directors.
We currently have Board openings in: CD & DVD sales, Event Coordination, and Volunteer Coordination.
Please send us a message on the Contact Us page to discuss your potential membership on the Longmont Chorale Board of Directors.
Nancy Mervar
Personnel, Grants, & Diversity
Nancy, tenor, has sung with the Longmont Chorale since 1989. Having retired from the public-school system, Nancy shares her skills with us for diversity, crisis and financial planning, personnel hiring and evaluations, and grant writing. Although classical music is her favorite genre, she enjoys singing the many different types of music we perform. Nancy and her husband raise goats near Lyons for the purpose of fire mitigation. She has also published two children’s stories about goats.
Wendy Gronbeck
Recordings & Writing
Wendy has been in the Chorale for 5 years. She had not sung in a group since the ‘60s but considers it her lucky day when she joined the Chorale. She grew up in Michigan and lived many years in Iowa City before coming to Colorado. She is a retired hospice nurse coordinator and broadcast writing consultant. She does a little writing for the Chorale and manages CD sales. Currently, she is trying to survive her new puppy, Woody.
Robert Coombes
Personnel Committee & Riser Wrangler
Bob has been in the Chorale for over 20 years. He had not sung in a group since the 1960s but considers it his lucky day when he joined the Chorale. Bob grew uup in Oklahoma, and is the other member of the born-in-Tulsa tenors club. Being a retired engineer in the disk-drive industry, Bob has lived in Oklahoma, Missouri, California, and Colorado. Bob has flown light aircraft since 1972, and does enjoy flying and owning older airplanes.
VOLUNTEERS
VOLUNTEERS
Keep Us Singing!
Our volunteers make the season’s many performances possible. Without their support, we could not bring performances of great choral music to our community.
To view our current volunteer opportunities and consider which might be right for you, please click the button below.
FEEDBACK
Audience Comments
We collect anonymous feedback through the survey form inserted into our printed programs.
Here’s a sampling of what our audience says.
Member Feedback
Each season, we ask our members to share their thoughts about the Longmont Chorale.
Here are some of the things our members share.
Professional Reviews
The Longmont Chorale is occasionally reviewed by professional musicians and local media.
Here are excerpts from their reviews.
