Marking a milestone
Oldham
County Singers
seek more members
The
group has been performing
in the area for a decade
By
Helen E. McKinney
Contributing Writer
(May 2008) – When Angela Fitzpatrick discovered
a community chorus in Oldham County, she realized there was hidden potential
within the group. Time has proved her correct, and the Oldham County
Signers are still going strong after a decade of performing.
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Photo
provided Group
conductor Angela Fitzpatrick |
In January 2000, Fitzpatrick became the group’s conductor,
realizing the opportunity for a wonderful experience lay ahead of her.
“To witness growth in musicality and the process of individuals
joining together to become a unified performing ensemble can be most
gratifying,” said Fitzpatrick.
The Oldham County Singers will be performing May 26 for the annual Memorial
Day performance on the Oldham County Courthouse Lawn. The program, which
will have speakers and patriotic songs, will begin at 10 a.m. at the
soldiers’ monument.
Anne and Don Helton formed the Oldham County Singers under the name
of The Little Colonel Singers in spring 1998, having no idea the chorus
would become so popular.
When the Heltons moved to Pewee Valley in 1990, “Our church did
not have a choir, and I knew there were no choirs in the county,”
said Don Helton. “Anne loves to sing,” he said of his wife.
Helton viewed starting a community chorus as “her opportunity to
sing.”
Helton said he was interested in establishing the chorus but then sought
new ideas and people to keep it going. “Because she loves to sing,
Angela has brought it to a certain high standard,” said Helton.
Fitzpatrick brings lots of expertise to the chorus. She also directs
the choir for John Knox Church on Westport Road. “She sets high
standards for herself and the choirs under her direction,” said
soprano and original member Debbie DePaull.
The chorus began with 12 members and has since grown to 20. “We
are presently looking for some new tenors, baritones and basses to join
us,” said DePaull.
Those interested in joining the chorus do not have to be residents of
Oldham County. Even though “the majority of our performances are
in this county, we do have occasion to sing in other locations when
invited,” DePaull said.
The group has performed at Oldham County Day, Oldham County Showcase,
Light Up La Grange, concerts at the John Black Community Center, Yew
Dell Gardens and for the Lion’s Club and La Grange Rotary Club.
Performances for local community events “establishes the fact that
Oldham County has its own Community Choral Signing Group that can represent
the county, not only locally but through the entire area,” said
Fitzpatrick.
The chorus is unique in that it has a sign language interpreter, Jill
Murphy, who joins them for concerts and special performances. “She
adds so much to our performances for the hearing impaired. She is a
joy and an inspiration to watch,” said DePaull.
“She makes the music more beautiful,” said Helton. The love
and dedication of the members have kept the chorus together, he said.
Fitzpatrick has a wide variety of music to select from when choosing
numbers for performances. Classical, sacred, spiritual, contemporary,
madrigals, Broadway and holiday favorites are included on the list.
The Oldham County Singers is planning an Anniversary Concert this fall
to showcase their different styles of music, said DePaull.
Planned for September, a Gala Concert will celebrate the Oldham County
Singers’ 10 years together. Special guest performers and returning
members will join the present chorus for a “signature piece”
with an After-Glow reception to follow, said Fitzpatrick.
The chorus is always looking for new members as “Folks move away
or leave for a variety of reasons,” said Fitzpatrick. A love of
singing and several hours of dedicated rehearsals each Monday evening
at the Oldham County Arts Center on Floydsburg Road is all that is required
of members.
The chorus supports itself with monthly dues, community sponsors, concert
ticket sales and an annual spring flower fundraiser, in which they team
up with Deibel’s Greenhouse. “Money raised has allowed us
to purchase music, a new keyboard, and sound system,” said DePaull.
• Rehearsals are Monday nights from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Buecker Hall at the Oldham County Schools Arts Center in Crestwood. For more information, contact Debbie DePaull at (502) 241-6493.