Charles City Singers celebrate 50 years of music, memories and community

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Singers marked a major musical milestone Sunday afternoon, celebrating their 50th anniversary with a concert at Trinity United Methodist Church that mixed tradition, innovation and personal reflection.

Guided by current director Tim Mitchell, with accompaniment by Christine Burns, the concert also brought back former directors to share memories and lead the choir through special selections.

Mitchell opened the program by welcoming the audience to the group’s golden anniversary, promising a mix of musical standards and newer selections to showcase the choir’s evolution over the years. The concert began with “The Morning Trumpet” then Ralph Manuel’s contemplative “Alleluia,” inviting listeners to reflect on the emotions behind a single word.

Former conductor Gary Schwartzhoff, who led the Singers from 1977 to 1985, returned to direct “Easter Anthem.” He praised the community’s support for the choir and recalled how backing from the Charles City Arts Council and Iowa Arts Council helped the group grow during his tenure. Schwartzhoff also reflected on Charles City’s strong tradition of supporting the arts.

“The support from you, the community, is absolutely necessary for the arts to continue to thrive,” Schwartzhoff said. “After 50 years, it is most noted in your support.”

Schwartzhoff later accompanied the group on the bass for a selection.

After several more pieces, including Eric William Barnum’s “Afternoon on a Hill,” the Singers paused to feature The Bridge Praise Band, which performed a set of contemporary worship songs to end the first half of the concert.

“The Charles City Singers have a strong tradition in their 50 years of celebrating, uplifting and offering opportunities for various performing ensembles in the area to be showcased,” Mitchell said, introducing the group from The Bridge Church in Charles City.

Following intermission, Scott Blankenbaker, the Singers’ director from 2016 to 2023, took the podium to lead “Ad Astra,” inspired by the Kansas state motto, “To the stars through difficulties.”

Blankenbaker, who grew up in Kansas, shared memories of Charles City community outreach performances while he directed the Singers, including events with the Charles City Arts Center.

“But I think most treasured to me in terms of those kinds of partnerships was our relationship with the Charles City Community Chamber Orchestra. We did several concerts with that group and, wow, made some really beautiful, meaningful music,” he said.

Blankenbaker also mused about the experience and challenge of singing in masks during the pandemic.

Later, the Singers performed Kim André Arnesen’s “Flight Song,” described by Mitchell as a musical metaphor for new life and the journeys everyone undertakes.

The Singers then welcomed back Steve Heitbrink, who directed the group from 1986 to 2016.

Heitbrink spoke warmly of his 30 years leading the ensemble, calling it a source of friendship as well as music. He said he had suffered a severe health incident he had not been expected to survive, and credited the support of choir members and others in the community with pulling him through.

Heitbrink said he was in the hospital for an extensive time, and choir members were sending their love as well as cards.

“Now, some of them weren’t so nice,” he said of the cards, “but I kind of expected that.”

Heitbrink introduced “Set Me as a Seal,” a piece he had commissioned by Joseph M. Martin for the group’s 35th anniversary, which took on deeper meaning after the composer changed the text to dedicate it to a friend who had recently passed away.

The program concluded with lighter selections, including the American folk song “Bring Me a Little Water, Silvy” and the gospel classic “I’ll Fly Away,” featuring Tracy McGregor on fiddle.

Mitchell introduced McGregor as the daughter of Gene Martin, who had started the Charles City High School orchestra program and led it for 37 years.

In a nod to tradition, the choir ended the concert by inviting former Singers members in the audience to join them in “The Lord Bless You and Keep You,” as they arranged themselves in a circle around the perimeter of the church sanctuary for the concluding number.

The concert ended with a standing ovation, a 50th anniversary group picture, then cake and punch in the fellowship hall.

The Charles City Singers are:

• Sopranos – Jen Burton, Sue Davis, Chris Eldridge, Kailey Eskildsen, Ashley Fagerland, Melanie Johanningmeier, Karen Krumweide, Katelyn Kluver, Kris Jakoubek, Angel McKenzie and Kelly Sweet.
• Altos – Kate Campbell, Jean Gross, Judy Hauser, Allison Hocking, Linda Hughes, Amy Kloberdanz, Kaitlyn Krueger, Susan Leeper, Cora Rubendall, Linda Willemssen and Barbara Wohlers.
• Tenors – Isaac Johnson, Kelvin Keifer, Keith Kruen and Charley Perry.
• Bass – Kip Hauser, Steve Heitbrink, Allen Powell, Scott Stroud and Lyle Western.