A History of the Mountain Mountain Melodies Chorus
The Mountain Melodies Chorus of Sweet Adelines began its life in 1980 when Bertha Kamstra, Gretchen Licata, Beth Bruce, Liz Bocker, Diane Kolaitus and Carol Davis-soon-to-be-Roper got together, found some music in four-part harmony, and created the Colville area's first barbershop chorus for women.
We spent several years trying to build up our membership past the size of a double quartet. As we added new members, old members kept moving away! But we persevered, and at length there were enough singers to complete requirements for chartering, which we did on October 25, 1991.
Since those small beginnings, well over 100 women and girls have taken part in this chorus. Among them were three very special ladies, Berty Thompson, Peggy Payne, and Liz Bocker, who have passed on, but whose memories we cherish.
For years we called ourselves the Prospective Colville Chorus until we chose the name 'Mountain Melodies.' This suited the area we have drawn members from: Colville, Addy, Arden, Barstow, Chewelah, Evans, Kettle Falls, Marcus, Northport, Orient, Rice, Valley, Inchelium, and Rossland, B.C.
At first we practiced in the Colville Christian Church and then moved over to the Free Methodist Church. As we grew in numbers we at length moved to the American Legion Hall where we could spread out without running into a pew. In the fall of 2000 we moved to the First Congregational Church where we could spread out without running into a grumpy Legion member.
Growing personally and musically is important to us, and we have, over the years, traveled to various cities for classes, as well as bringing coaches to our chorus. On each page of the life of this chapter is the continuing story of goals set, and goals accomplished, and then reaching higher to better ourselves and our music.
The driving force behind our musical growth for the past twenty years was our director, Bertha Kamstra, aided by our dedicated section leaders. In the spring of 2001, Bertha stepped down, and Judy Estep, a chorus member, stepped up. We appreciate Judy's willingness to fill the director's shoes and to do her best to further develop her skills. Another Chorus Member, Coral Herron, is now our assistant director.
Sharing the gift of song is also important to our chorus and we try to perform for the public whenever we are asked, whether it is for an audience of one or 101. We have performed singing Valentines every years since the 13 we did in 1987, working up to 100 in 1993, and close to 150 in following years.
With singing Valentines we can tailor individual "shows" delivered with love directly to people wherever they happen to be. In that respect they are better than a stage show which can only be attended by people who are well and mobile. Who can forget the man who was so touched by our singing for him that he asked to be buried with the flower we gave him? Or the lady at the nursing home who sat in silence for months on end until a quartet serenaded her and she at last found her voice?
Another way that we contribute to our communities each year is to donate money and make-up bags of items for the Family Support Center, which provides emergency shelter for victims of abuse.
Excellent performing quartets have come from our ranks. Those that named themselves are Quintessence, Sing 4 Joy, and Forward Motion. Quartets tend to evolve as people come and go, just as choruses do, but create their own unique sound and create lasting friendships.
By 1992 the chorus was ready to sing in the Opera House stage in our very first Region 13 Competition. Perfecting the make-up, costumes, music and the choreography was a learning experience in itself, but we survived the scrutiny of the judges and decided to try it all again in 1993. In 1994 we traveled to Portland to sing on the stage of the magnificent Arliene Schnitzer Theater. 1995, 1997 and 2000 found us back in the Opera House stage in Spokane. From each trip to the judging arena we have learned more about singing with expression and energy and forward motion and synchronization and moothness and ringing chords...and more about ourselves in the process.
We Mountain melodies Chorus members take pride in our efforts to spread the harmony we have found in ever-widening circles. In light of - or perhaps more accurately - in the shadow of recent events, it seems more important than ever to promote harmony and healing in the world. On the solid foundation that we have built over the years, let us devote ourselves anew to sharing the gift of song.
