Charles City Singers celebrate music with an Iowa connection

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

Another full house filled Trinity United Methodist Church Sunday afternoon for the spring concert of the Charles City Singers.

Featuring “Songs Of, For and About Iowa,” the selections included songs about Iowa from the Rogers and Hammerstein musical “State Fair,” songs made famous by Iowa singers, including “Moon River” by Andy Williams, and songs by Iowa composers, including selections by Mason City native Meredith Willson.

Also featured was “The Lonely Goatherd,” from “The Sound of Music.”

What’s the Iowa connection to this tale based in pre-World War II Austria?

Director Tim Mitchell explained that the marionettes used in the Julie Andrews musical were made by Mason City native and world famous puppet master Bil Baird, and are now on permanent display in the MacNider Art Museum.

Following intermission, a medley from Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man” – including “76 Trombones” – was heralded by the entrance of Scott Stroud, marching in while adorned in a drum major’s bearskin hat, brandishing a drum major’s mace and blowing his whistle.

The group was accompanied by Chris Burns, and on the final selection, “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross,” by Scott Blankenbaker on the organ.

Members of the Charles City Singers are:

• Sopranos – Jen Burton, Sue Davis, Chris Eldridge, Kailey Eskildsen, Melanie Johanningmeier, Katelyn Kluver and Karen Krumwiede.

• Altos – Kate Campbell, Judy Hauser, Allison Hocking, Linda Hughes, Roxanne Johnson, Amy Kloberdanz, Kaitlyn Kruger, Susan Leeper, Cora Rubendall, Linda Willemssen and Barbara Wohlers.

• Tenors – Kelvin Kiefer, Keith Kruen and Charlie Perry.

• Bass – Kip Hauser, Alan Power, Scott Stroud and Lyle Western.