Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 10, 1994                   TAG: 9403100214
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: N-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MATT CHITTUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

BOTETOURT CHORUS SOUNDS OFF FOR ITS 16TH SEASON IN COUNTY

The chorus, in its 16th season, is a self-supported, volunteer group that sings out of love for singing.

"None of us is a professional singer," says Bob Willis, a chorus member for two years. "We just enjoy singing together, and a few of us like to ham it up."

They will present their annual Musical Variety show Saturday at James River High School and March 18-19 at Lord Botetourt High School. This year's program, "It's a Grand Night for Singing," is made up of 33 songs from seven Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein shows, including "Oklahoma" and "The Sound of Music."

Willis, the show's producer, says the group chose the Rogers and Hammerstein songs to commemorate last year's 50th anniversary of the famous duo's collaboration.

The chorus relies on donations made at the spring show for its funding. Carol Hingular, chorus president, says she gets "fantastic cooperation and participation from the members," who provide everything from refreshments to costumes.

Besides the spring show, the chorus performs each year at the Fincastle Festival and at an area church each Thanksgiving. It has also performed Christmas carols at "Dickens of a Christmas" on the Roanoke City Market and at several area nursing homes.

Founded in July 1978 by Garland Stevens and Louise Hyde Ale, the original 45 to 50 members presented their first show Oct. 1, 1978. The chorus was originally a civic project of the Botetourt Improvement Association Inc., but it gave up that sponsorship in March 1982.

Stevens, 73, and still the group's promoter, estimates 25 of the charter members of the chorus are still involved. More than 200 members have come and gone during the group's existence.

Over the years, the chorus has performed a variety of songs from tributes to the Gay 90s to contemporary show tunes, but said Stevens, "When It's Darkness on the Delta," an early 1930s Dixieland song, remains the favorite of the chorus.

"We like to think of our shows as family entertainment," Stevens says. "We like to think we spread a little cheer."

All performances are at 8 p.m. Tickets are $4 for adults and $1 for children and may be purchased at the door.