Voices West Chorale to share TV themes

April 29 performances are set for rec center in Highlands Ranch

BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e south metro area’s Voices West Chorale will have one more season performance on April 29, called “TV eme Songs,” before members take a summer break.

It will be a cabaret-style concert and fundraiser at Wildcat Mountain Auditorium at Southridge Recreation Center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Road in Highlands Ranch. Tickets are available at voiceswest.org. ere will be two performances, at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., according to chorale president Kelli Chan, who lives in Highlands Ranch.

Chan says the chorale will reach a 45th anniversary in August of this year.

It started as the Littleton Chorale and was first directed by Bud Nicholson, with musical members of the Friends of the Littleton Library joining together to make music and entertain local friends.

Subsequent directors included Vicki Burrichter, Larry Johnson, Glen McCune and James Ramsey. Many of the original members were also involved in creating “Fiasco,” a musical spoof of Littleton: its city council, school board and whoever else was active around town. That show was created by members for a number of years and was a source for lifelong friendships

Since that was just a beloved spring event, they continued to gather and sing together through the year, performing an occasional concert at Littleton United Methodist Church, another church, or a school.

Chan says Voices West membership is about 50 right now, although it had reached 70 before the COVID scene hit the world of entertainment hard. All members are volunteers except the director, assistant director, accompanist and assistant accompanist.

Michael Krueger, who is director of Voices West, is also director of music at King of Glory Methodist Church in Lakewood.

“ e chorale is a lot like a family. We are getting younger and younger members,” she says of choir members, who o er a mix of age, economic status, political views and abilities.

Chan said that when she joined the choir, she had not sung for over 30 years, but on the rst night, she could feel her voice coming back. When she was a child, she joined a band, a choir and sought out music wherever she could.

“For other members and myself, making music together brings joy to us and the audience.”

“Members cover a wide range — not all are music teachers, music majors — there’s a wide range of interests.” streets, in recited of Grandview Arts they landed and buses tion students to rainbow pasture. Cork, seniors and Deputy dignitaries. and tour through perform Mary choirs perform “ by performance, began Patrick’s blasting by small attention di pictures band, from Television marching playing Jackson twirler sta viewed. viral orchestra hall Lord from parade Mayor were Orchestra ous

“We’ll watch for opportunities to collaborate with other area groups. Our rst event after the pandemic was a collaboration with Ballet Folklorico,” she said.

After the nal concert for this season, planning for the next season will be underway. e group will travel to Spain and Portugal, leaving a day after Christmas.

Smaller groups from the membership perform throughout the community during the year and Chan hopes to have a quartet or two to sing at the August Western Welcome Week booth the group is planning. (Near the ice cream store.)

Prospective members can see the chorale in the Western Welcome Week Parade and inquire about membership, Chan says, or can go through the website at voiceswest. org.