Some 40 of our Chorus Veterans and 20 guests met over the final week of July 2006 for a Chorus reunion in Atlanta, GA. 

A great time was had by all. Here is my recap of the event: 

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My dear fellow chorus members and families,

REUNION NEWS

Kerry and I just got back (around 1am) from Atlanta and had a great, great time. There were approximately 40 chorus members present from 4 decades of the chorus' past. Approx 30 members sang on the risers (joined by 6 spouses) making for a strong chorus.

In all we had over 60 attendees.

Nearly half of the attendees were "first timers" (in respect to our 11 annual reunions, begun in 1996, the year following the death of our close friend, Wayne Drake, which inspired us to carry on his work.. and begin these gatherings.

Of the first timers they spanned the wide range of the chorus past. We met some incredible folks from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

There were numerous highlights of this reunion festival. Firstoff, I would like to thank

our host, Talmadge Hobbs, and this year's reunion coordinator, Hope Kurtz, for all of their toil in accommodating the needs and dynamics of such a large group.

Their efforts were focused on many events.. the gathering of our veterans in a setting where they could visit, rehearse and perform for area veterans.. and the wedding of two of our chorus members, Terry Smith and Yvonne (Quezaire) Smith, who served together some 22 years ago in Germany.

Feeding the troops became a noteworthy challenge, as our intended "food" source and manager was unable to join us at the last minute. But Talmadge and Hope got us through it all.

Next, I would like to thank John Schmitt, Ken Noble and Duane Plash - for providing us with Direction, accompaniment and support, without which a chorus cannot function.

And Gerri Schmitt, for her inspired page turning.

This year's reunion was a great one for schmoozing and jamming. As early as Thursday night several chorus members arrived and met, ate, drank, chatted and sang together.

Regarding the wedding Friday night, it was a beautiful, simple ceremony wherein Pastor Beatrice (Bea) Bruno gave her blessing to the couple in an spiritually uplifting benediction that was joyous, moving and powerful.. all at the same time. Pastor Talmadge Hobbs officiated over the ceremony that married the two. It was simple, pure and heartwarming. The two exchanged their vows in a beautiful church with chorus friends and family present.

After the ceremony a reception was held at the church, and traditional toasts, garter and flower tossing and wedding cake cutting rituals were observed.

For entertainment former members of "Bagshot Row", a supremely talented group of 3 chorus members, Dan Odum, Dan Murray and Jamie Pickard, setup professional sound equipment (courtesy of Dan Murray productions and Dan Odom Drums and Pipes) to stage an open mike setting where chorus members could sing, jam and entertain to their hearts content. Unfortunately the equipment experienced some rain damage and the concert came to a halt. It was replaced instead by folks jamming back at the hotel until the wee hours.

Saturday was the day of the concert. John Schmitt had rehearsed the group Friday and Saturday with Duane Plash accompanying the first rehearsal and Ken Noble, the second and the performance. On Saturday the Chorus performed at the At the Atlanta VA Hospital and Hospice before a crowd of Aged and Disable Veterans, Family and friends. It was a varied program of Military, German, Spiritual, Traditional, Secular and Non-Secular music that sounded good and was well received. Afterwards the group met with the Veterans and visited with them.

Two Post Concert events followed. Back at the reunion site Dan Murray and company re-setup their electronic equipment INSIDE this time. A long open mike event ensued and was enjoyed by all. Some highlights: Leeam Aldouby brought down the house with his hilarious folk songs and routine. "Bagshot Row", the hearthrob group of the 70s, who

Packed the Bistro 2000 group to the gills when performing, were reunited and sang. Gil

Garcia, John Tollin, Danny Gatlin and others entertained. Open Mike night was a big success.

Following the official closing of the "chorus clubhouse concert" unofficially the diehards headed back to the hotel and continued their "in-house concert" until after 4am.

Simultaneously (to the "clubhouse concert") Chorus member Manual Covington (Cov) headlined a program at area nightclub "The Ridge" . Cov's program lasted over two hours as he sang set after set of "theme pieces". His program included the music of Rat Pack members Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin, noted singers Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, Al Green, The Temptations (ALL OF THEM), and the King himself, Elvis "Covington" Presley. Manny's show was an unbelievable blend of his wonderful lyrical, powerful bass voice and the showmanship of consummate artist. He involved his audience in his numbers, sang to them, with them (a couple of audience participation numbers) and even did his own sound and lightshow (Disco briefly returned.. lighting and all). If you are ever in Atlanta you need to check him out.

Awesome stuff.

Recap: For me Atlanta was awesome. Like I always say, this is a time for old and new friends. I saw some dear friends I had not seen in as long as 32 years (Jamie Pickard), and others I had not seen for at least a year. I got a chance to visit and sing with most of them (and their families). Some of these I served with, long ago. Others I had met at past reunions, and they are dear friends now. Seeing them warmed the cockles of my heart. In addition, though, I met the greatest new people and formed new friendships.

It was unbelievably great.

For those who have never been to a reunion and are on the fence about joining us in future years.. ask yourself this. Could my heart use a little love and uplifting? Is my life so rich that I would not be enriched by seeing my old friends? Would my family not enjoy meeting my old friends and seeing (in person) what we once did? Is my life so complete that I have no room in it for new friends?

Truthfully, unless your heart is stone, these reunions will melt it and make a believer out of you. Ask anyone who attended.

Here, by the way is a list of this years' attendees. If I missed anyone, or made any mistakes on this list, its very unintentional. Please email me and I will correct.

Leeam "Lee" & Sara Aldouby

Ron Anderson

Shanna (Chalker) & Dave Anderson & daughter Amanda Kay

Kalvin Bennett

Angel (Bloodworth) & Lester McKoy

Mark 'Gopher' Brunnemer

Bea (Stallworth) Bruno

Manuel "Cov" Covington

Robert & Dee Dee Cowart and children Michele & Michael

Gil & Shelly Garcia

Danny Gatlin

Ken 'Doc' Hallberg

Deborah (Foust) Hamby

Jo "Mom" (Grayson) Hemphill

Talmadge Hobbs and friend (Val)

Cliff Husband

Heidi Kelly

Dave & Kay Klick

Hope (Darnauer) Kurtz

'Charlie' & Joyce Matlock

Louie & Sue McLane

Steve & Kerry Millman

Don Mundt

Dan Murray, son Ross and friend Troy

Ken & Janice Noble and sons Michael, Mark and Charles

Dan Odum and friend Sharon

Jamie & Noelle Pickard and Jonathan & Sierra

Duane Plash

John & Gerri Smith

Terry Smith and Yvonne Quezaire-Smith

Diane (Baeb) & Steve Smith, Sean & Maria

Jlander Stevens

Chuck 'T' Thornton

John Tollin

John & Patrecia Zebrowski

George & Carol Zifer

This year's reunion was a definite success. Already there is a talk afoot about a reunion next year, in some other part of the country.

If you are interested in possibly hosting a reunion, please let me know. We are compiling (Kerry, Hope and I ) a "Kit" for the new host to explain what we need to from our hosts..

So that they know what it entails and what they are agreeing to.

Whoever coordinate's next year's reunion (it will probably be me) will work closely with that host to make sure that all is falling into place in a timely manner so that we can get word of the reunion out early, get music to any potential attendee, and have folks come prepared with a decent understanding of their words and notes before the reunion gathering. (If needed we will make sectional recordings to help folks learn their parts).

By starting early and spreading the responsibility of learning the music around more evenly, we can offload some of the time and energy needed to rehearse. Its important that our director, accompanist , hosts and coordinators enjoy their time too.. without having it to be too much work for any one individual.

I appreciate, from the bottom of my heart, the efforts and dedication that our chorus members put forth on our behalf. This year I would like to thank (in addition to those already named) Dave Klick (for his many efforts behind the scenes, and for those great nametags he provided), Heidi Kelli and Gerri Schmitt for their hard work in setting up table and chairs for chorus/wedding meals, etc., Sue McLane, Kay Klick and Kerry Millman for their help, as needed.

CHORUS NEWS

Congratulations to:

Best Wishes to:  

If anyone ever has any news of interest to the chorus body, please feel free to email me and I will try to keep the group informed.

By the way, that goes for stuff you can email me, like pictures, videos, etc. I will post materials to my website and forward to Shanna for hers.

Hope to see/hear from you soon.

Steve Millman
612 803-8240
Steve@millman.biz
www.chorus.millman.biz

Reunion 2006 Upcoming In July 2006

Trigger Event