The Whitesboro Community Choir (WCC) performed their spring concert on Thursday, May 9 to a packed auditorium at First Baptist Church. The concert’s theme was “A Musical Flashback,” in which the choir and jazz ensemble performed favorites ranging from the 1920s to the 1980s. The choir is under the direction of Susie Meals, Jackie Mitchell and Brenda Warren. Piano accompanist is Marilyn Meals.
The jazz ensemble is under the direction of Susie Meals, and members are Rebecca Meals, alto saxophone; Reese Brentzel, baritone saxophone; Chris Dickson, tenor saxophone; Colby Meals, trombone; Cory Meals, trombone; Paul Terrell, trumpet; Carol Golden, trumpet; Greg Smith, guitar; Justin Boren, drums; and Jessica Edwards, clarinet.
For this musical journey through time, performers dressed in various costumes from across the decades. The stage was decorated as the set of a live radio station, KWCC 100.1 (an acronym for Whitesboro Community Choir). Radio hosts were played by Whitesboro Mayor “Happy Dave” Blaylock and Edwards, Managing Editor of the Whitesboro News-Record.
The show began with the jazz ensemble performing, “Sing, Sing, Sing,” a Big Band chart first recorded by Benny Goodman and his orchestra in 1937. The song started with the driving beat of a drum solo by Boren. Other soloists throughout the song were Terrell (trumpet) and Dickson (tenor saxophone). The next selection, “Someone to Watch Over Me,” came from the 1920s musical “Oh, Kay.” The choir was accompanied by a small instrumental ensemble of Edwards (clarinet), Marilyn Meals (piano), Smith (guitar) and Boren (drums).
Soloists Jamie and Keith Orsburn brought a nostalgic vibe to the song as each sang about blind love and regrets of the “one that got away.”
The choir and jazz ensemble then took the audience to the 1940s with Duke Ellington’s, “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.” The jazz ensemble then played, “In the Mood,” a Big Band chart recorded by Glenn Miller in 1939 that has come to symbolize the 1940s, WWII and the Big Band Era as a whole. Featured soloists were Rebecca Meals (alto saxophone), Dickson (tenor saxophone), Golden and Terrell (trumpet) and Smith (guitar).
As the music of the 1940s came to an end, a new genre of music began to develop. Early Rock and Roll captured the musical stage in the late 1950s. The WCC men’s choir performed “Jailhouse Rock,” originally recorded by Elvis Presley. The men were accompanied by Marilyn Meals (piano), Smith (guitar) and Boren (drums).
The 1960s brought genres of music besides Rock and Roll, known as Doo Wop or novelty songs. A perfect example was, “Who Put the Bomp,” arranged by Roger Emerson and performed by the choir with soloist, Kyle Eddings.
A WCC concert wouldn’t be complete without audience participation. This year, a video was played in the likeness of “Name That Tune” where a six-second clip of various songs ranging from 1955 to 1985 was played on a large screen. The audience was challenged to name the title of the song and the band or artist that performed it. This brought back fun memories for the audience and it wasn’t long into the video that most everyone was singing along.
Platform shoes, bell-bottomed pants and metallic glitter balls for the dance floor brought in the Disco genre of music and dance in the 1970s. A popular song from that era was “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” by Elton John and arranged by Mark Brymer, sung by the choir. Next was “Dancing Queen” by the band ABBA, arranged by Alan Billingsley and sung by the WCC ladies, bringing a healthy dose of energetic disco fun to the program.
A musical flashback wouldn’t be complete without songs from the Beatles, whose music and styles spanned multiple decades. Mark Brymer arranged the medley, “Beatles: Rewind,” which included 18 classic songs in just four minutes. This mash-up included “Eleanor Rigby” with soloist Bobby Burnett.
To close out the concert, the choir sang “Awaken the Music,” arranged by Greg Gilpin. The lyrics encourage musicians to awaken the music within and achieve their dreams.
Susie Meals encouraged the audience to awaken their passions and dreams and go out into the world and pursue them.
Following the concert, a reception was held in the Commons Area hosted by the GFWC History Club of Whitesboro, Lake Area Women’s Club of Gordonville and House of Brews Coffee House.
The choir wishes to thank Bill DeBorde, sound tech; Golden, script writer; Warren, programs/promotional materials; and Bobbie Erwin for providing refreshments to the choir throughout the season. The choir also wishes to thank Edwards and Blaylock, who knocked it out of the park as the radio show host narrators. The choir extends appreciation to the First Baptist Church of Whitesboro for providing a place to rehearse and perform their concert.
Anyone interested in purchasing photographs from the concert, taken by Deni Baker with DJB Productions, please call Susie Meals at 903-815-1783 for details.
This concert couldn’t happen without its sponsors. The choir thanks EXP Realty|The Meals Team (Colby Meals and Cory Meals), Marilyn and Stephen Pospisil, House of Brews Coffee House (Chris Jefferson) and GFWC History Club of Whitesboro.