Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 7, 1991 TAG: 9103080309
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARY JO SHANNON/ SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Botetourt County Chorus, organized in 1978, boasts many husband-wife teams, and three generations of at least one family - "the famous Spickard family of Blue Ridge," said Garland Stevens of Fincastle, co-founder and adviser for the group.
The chorus's current director is Rosalyn Spickard Sloan. Her sister, Naomi Spickard Rock, is the accompanist. Their relatives - husbands, the Rev. I.W. Sloan and Michael Rock; father, Haynes Spickard; uncle, Emmanuel Spickard; and cousin, Greg Spickard - are all members of the chorus, Stevens said during a recent rehearsal for the group's upcoming variety show, "Over the Rainbow."
Stevens emphasized "current director." The group has had eight to 10 directors since its organization, some serving for only one or two productions.
"Janet Rock, who was transferred to Norfolk by Norfolk Southern, probably directed more programs than any other director," he said.
The idea of forming a perpetual choral group in the area was conceived by Louise Hyde Ale, a former high school music teacher and church organist, and Stevens, a retired drama teacher.
Ale, who will be 82 in March, now lives at Richfield Retirement Center. A native of Buchanan, she recalls taking her first piano lessons at Hollins College at age 5. She enrolled as a regular student at age 16, but later graduated from Longwood with a major in music education. In 1977, former students, friends and colleagues in the music world established the Louise Hyde Ale Music Scholarship at Hollins College in her honor.
For many years Ale taught music in public schools, gave private lessons and served as church organist, moving about the state with her husband, a Presbyterian minister. After his retirement, they returned to Buchanan, where she remained for many years after his death.
Stevens, a 69-year-old bachelor, retired in 1974 from Lord Botetourt High School. Serving as adviser for the chorus, researching themes for the shows and supervising their development provide a satisfactory outlet for his creative interests, he said.
The Botetourt County Chorus, originally a project of the Botetourt Improvement Association Inc., has had more than 250 members - not all singers - during the past 13 years. The BIA served as the group's sponsor until the chorus became self-supporting in March 1982.
Singers and non-singers have been used on crews for lighting, costumes and props for the productions, Stevens said.
"We have kept admission prices low [$3 for adults; $1 for children under 13] and proceeds from tickets have provided all the funds we need," Stevens said. "Most of our expense is for music. We have acquired an extensive music library during the past 13 years."
Three major productions usually are held each season, beginning with the Festival Concert, which coincides with Historic Fincastle's Arts and Crafts Festival. At Thanksgiving, the chorus performs sacred music as part of a community Thanksgiving service at one of the local churches. The highlight of the year is the Musical Variety Show in early spring.
This year, "Over the Rainbow," featuring songs with color in the titles, will be presented three times - March 9, 8 p.m. at James River High School; and March 15 and 16, 8 p.m. both nights, at Lord Botetourt High School.
Ruth Whorley, production director from Blue Ridge, said this is the first year children - seven children and grandchildren of chorus members - will participate in the show.
"They will be dressed in costumes representative of various countries. The children will be featured in `Rainbow Connection' and in the finale, `Everything is Beautiful,' " she explained.
Whorley praised her assistant, Margie Shields, for the outstanding job she has done making costumes, including a green one for Kermit the Frog.
The audience will be treated to such old favorites as "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree," "The Green, Green Grass of Home," "Red River Valley" and "Blue Moon," as well as a "Pink Panther" dance and "Purple People Eater" rap.
by CNB