May 2017
The News of Sun City Center
Sun City Center is Alive with Music • The SCC Women’s Chorus
By Ilona Merritt The Women’s Chorus of SCC had its beginning as part of the SCC Women’s Club. Established in 1963, the Women’s Chorus claims to be the oldest chorus in SCC. At the time, all singers were members of the Women’s Club. The group in 1973 branched out because they wanted to include women who were not members of the Woman’s Club and include members who lived outside the SCC. The Women’s Chorus became a SCC Community Association club in October, 2015, and members outside of the SCC area pay a waiver to the CA in order to sing with the chorus. In recent years, the Women’s Club supported the Singers by attending and promoting their concerts, as well as providing grants toward the purchase of music, a large expense for a group of this size. Before a full house, this group of 60 women presented their annual spring concert at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church on April 2, 2017. The theme was “A Century of Pop Music” and included popular songs from each decade. Included were solos, duets, the group’s own barbershop quartet, and chorus member Ann Wiens performed a solo on the Celtic harp. A special jazz piano duet was presented by Keith Rasmussen, Chorus piano accompanist, and Jeff Jordan, Chorus director. In addition to Rasmussen’s superb piano accompaniment, the Chorus was also accompanied by Jerry Cheeseboro on the drums and Scott Macchio on the bass. The Chorus has trained under the leadership of Jeff Jordan, their director. Jeff Jordan is the Director of Worship Arts at the United Methodist Church
in SCC. He is very skilled, expects the best from the singers and helps them to achieve new skills and reach higher levels of refinement with their singing in an enjoyable way. All are energized with his enthusiasm and grow with his encouragement and kindness to each member. The accompanist, Keith Rasmussen, was the Chorus’ director for the year 2014-15. On returning to Sun City Center, he offered to fill the vacancy left by the previous pianist. He enhances the Chorus’ singing with his exceptional skills. Add to that a president, Janet Warren, who is energetic and an excellent organizer and; a group of singers eager to work hard and the result is an excellent organization presenting outstanding music. The Chorus is funded from bi-annual dues from members for each fall and
spring season, from free will offerings at two concerts a year, and from additional contracted performances. Donated funds vary from concert to concert and year to year. Funding from dues also varies with membership. Chorus members donate to various efforts and participate in fund-raising events as well as solicit sponsorship from various businesses in Sun City Center. The Women’s Chorus has a Facebook page with pictures, comments and videos of past performances. www.facebook.com/ sccwomenschorus or call Janet Warren at 813-634-6692 for more information. The Women’s Chorus has two ‘seasons’: fall and winter/spring — registration for all former and potential members is in the first week of September for the Fall season and similarly in January for Spring. Dues are $20 for each season. All rehearsals and concerts are held
at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church on W. Del Webb Blvd. Members meet each Thursday in season from 9-11 a.m. for rehearsals. The Chorus takes a break during the summer, but the Board continues to meet and plan for the new season. They present two concerts a year. In addition, they perform at various venues when requested and are generally paid for these performances. They sing a wide variety of music— sacred music, spiritual, folk, ethnic, Broadway, popular, patriotic, songs that are comedic and fun, and songs that involve the audience. Above all, the Women’s Chorus has members who are supportive of each other. Many of the members have found healing of the spirit through singing and it has helped them through some of life’s rough spots. The Women’s Chor us: s eeking excellence in choral music; uplifting hearts with song in Sun City Center. ED’s NOTE: This is the first in an ongoing series to showcase the musicoriented groups in Sun City Center. If you belong to such an organization, we would like to hear from you. Please send an email to “editor@newsofsuncitycenter. com”.
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