Still singing with gusto after 60 years

By Blair Reynolds
Sun Newspapers
(Created 5/15/03 9:22:25 AM)

For six decades, members of the South St. Paul Male Chorus have been the city's ambassadors of song.

At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 17, (2003) the chorus will celebrate 60 years of singing at its season-ending concert at the South St. Paul High School Auditorium.

What started out as one-time gathering to honor one of South St. Paul's own has turned into a tradition that chorus members say gets stronger with each season.

The chorus made its first public performance on April 17, 1943, when a group of businessmen, teachers, and others performed at South St. Paul High School to honor native son Harold Stassen, who had recently resigned as Minnesota's governor to serve with the Navy in the Pacific Ocean.

"They had a good time signing, so they started to say, ŒHey we enjoy this, let's keep it up,' and they have ever since," said Roy Swanson, a member of the chorus for 48 seasons.

Under the direction of its first director, Edwin Marriott, the chorus sang at War Bond rallies, veteran's homes and pops concerts at the old St. Paul Auditorium.

The original chorus had 30 members, one more than today's version of the group.

During its melodious history, the chorus has sung at countless events, including the traditional Christmas in South St. Paul celebration, annual concerts and even on the field at the Metrodome before Twins games.

But Swanson points out the pinnacle of the chorus's accomplishments was, in his opinion, an event called The Big Sing, which the city played host to in 1994 at Wakota Arena.

The chorus played host to 16 other choruses from the Upper Midwest during a weekend full of music, meetings, and social endeavors.

The event brought more than 500 musicians and their spouses to town for the weekend.

"We worked for about two years on planning the event," said Swanson. "With the help of the ACMA [Association of Male Choruses of America] and our wives, we put on a wonderful event."

The chorus originally was funded by the city's general budget because the city was permitted to sponsor a city band or choir. As budgets got tighter in later years, the chorus lost most of its funding from the city.

"We still get a little bit of money from the Parks and Recreation Department," said Swanson. "But a majority of our funding comes from Lions Club, VFW, Croatian Hall and the American Legion. We also have to pay member dues, and we hold spaghetti dinner fundraisers."

The chorus's spaghetti dinner fundraisers have become a big hit with the community, said Swanson.

"The people in town have responded well," said Swanson. "They have helped us raise a lot of money."

The chorus's current director, Stephanie Phelps, said she believes the chorus has stood the test of time because of the commitment each member brings to the group.

"They are just guys that love to sing," said Phelps, who is in her fourth year of leading the chorus. "It is one local outlet where they can give back to the community. These guys are willing to do a lot to be involved."

The chorus has taken its repertoire of patriotic, Broadway and ballads to places such as Winnipeg, Manitoba, North Dakota and greater Minnesota.

The chorus is made up of singers who live both inside and outside South St. Paul's borders.

"We don't discriminate. We allow outsiders," said Swanson. "Most of the members either live in town, work in town or know someone in the city. We are very proud to have the city as part of our name."

Phelps said that the median age of the chorus is about 50 and that the chorus continues to grow.

"We want to keep raising the bar for singing. We always want to grow in numbers," said Phelps.

The chorus rehearses once a week and typically performs once or twice a month.

Chorus members memorize all music.

"We have a lot of fun," said Swanson. "We are very proud of our accomplishments and all the support we have received over the years."