Chorus celebrates centennial

Chadron State Community Chorus celebrated the centennial of Chadron State College by singing a selection from American popular music from the 1910s on Sunday. The choir was directed by Una Taylor, associate professor, and accompanied by Mimi Norman.

The concert featured a guest accompanist and a guest conductor. Laurie Norman joined by Mimi Norman, accompanied the song “I Love a Piano” by Irving Berlin. Jackson Hammitt, of Rapid City, S.D., conducted the choir while they were singing “God Bless America” by Irving Berlin.

Hammitt directed the Chadron Community Chorus 1969-1998 and retired in 2001 as a professor of the Chadron State College Music Department.

Originally, Chadron State Community Chorus started as Chadron Municipal Choir in 1933 under direction of Dr. T.R. Sholz, and was renamed as Chadron Community Choir in 1940s. In 1969, the choir was renamed again to Chadron State Community Chorus when Dr. Hammit took the post of the director.

Dr. Taylor has conducted since in 2006.

In order to celebrate the Chadron State College Centennial, Dr. Taylor chose several popular songs from the decade of the foundation of the college. Choices from 1911 were very limited, so choosing from a decade provided a lot more flexibility.

“The semester did feel different,” Dr. Taylor said. Some new members joined the chorus, because they enjoyed the music the chorus was preparing for the concert. The members of the chorus, especially “the older people really really enjoyed doing that music,” Dr. Taylor said.

After the concert, the Chorus organized a pot-luck for the performers and their family members.

“It provides the opportunity for people to interact socially,” said Dr. Taylor. Getting together socially is very important for the choir, because they get an extra opportunity to get to know each other better.

“It is a fun, social thing to do,” Dr. Taylor said.