Musical growth: Snoqualmie Valley Girls Choir expands vision for future musicans
Published 11:35 am Thursday, January 8, 2015
By Becky Davie, Contributing Writer
“Ding-dong merrily on high” reverberated through the Si View Community Center during the holiday bazaar, Dec. 6 and later at the tree lighting ceremony at the Salish Lodge. “Deck the Halls” to the Snoqualmie Train Depot greeted visitors come to see Santa Dec. 13.
Those singing voices belonged to 11 fourth to eighth grade girls who are members of the Snoqualmie Valley Girls Choir.
In its 11th year, the Snoqualmie Valley Girls Choir (SVGC) is re-visioning and expanding its mission, hoping to grow the choir by reaching out to small schools, home school families, and to girls in the local school districts in the Valley wanting to expand their singing opportunities and to build lasting friendships.
The choir was started by Lee Madland, Vicki Okerlund, Suzanne Oney and Dick Williams, to provide a choir opportunity for their daughters, and to develop the musical youth talent in the community.
Madland’s twin daughters, Holly and Grace, both loved to sing but had no opportunities to do so in a choir because they attended a small private school. Now both are college graduates who continued their music education throughout college. Grace sang this year with the Seattle Dickens Carolers which was her childhood dream, now fulfilled.
“SVGC was so much more than a choir; it was a family,” said Holly. “The music we made was special because we made it together. Our devotion to each other encouraged us to push our boundaries and to become the best musicians we could be.”
Sandy Hambrick of Snoqualmie, the choir’s long-time piano accompanist, has been with SVGC since the beginning. Along with playing for all rehearsals, concerts and events, she has played for many of the members at competitions, regional and sectionals, solo/ensemble events, and private concerts. Hanbrick has also accompanied choir member high school seniors who have auditioned at UW and other colleges. She encourages the girls to pursue their musical talents whenever they can.
The new choir director, Julie Parsons, is an enthusiastic supportive teacher, making rehearsals unconventional and fun, while providing a solid singing foundation. Her philosophy is that music is integral to the human spirit and she strives to help each choir member develop confidence, poise and to find her own voice. Parsons is a highly accomplished singer in her own right, having sung in choirs from the age of 8, with over 30 years of classical music training. She holds a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Central College in Iowa, a master’s degree in choral conduction from New England Conservatory, and a doctorate from the University of Washington. She is also is a regular musical director for Youth Theatre Northwest and Second Story Repertory.
SVGC performs at least one concert each year and at various events in the Snoqualmie Valley region, as well as entertaining at senior centers and hospitals.
Under Parsons’ tutelage, choir members have the opportunity to learn to conduct. The choir will also integrate some musical theater into rehearsals and performances.
Any families or girls interested in visiting the SVGC during a rehearsal are welcome. The new semester begins in February.
Rehearsals are 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, at the Mount Si Lutheran Church in North Bend. To learn more, visit www.snoqualmievalleygirlschoir.com.
