Two concerts on April 25 and 26 will herald the start of spring in Jamestown. Each concert will be at the Basilica of St. James at 7:30 p.m. Joining the Jamestown Choralaires will be the University of Jamestown's men's choir, Cantus and the Jamestown High School choir men.
This concert celebrates 70 years since the Choralaires first gathered to sing for the community in 1955. That the group is still together and growing says a lot about the dedication its directors and participants have given to keeping the Choralaires alive and contributing their voices to the citizens of Jamestown and surrounding area.
Director Pamela Burkhardt has been with the organization since 1997, and in a previous interview she said participants began with what they had available and grew from there.
"The group started from scratch, taking up a collection for their first set of music," she said in an earlier interview. "The Choralaires now have a library of more than 600 selections, a Steinway grand piano, a shell and risers, and tuxedos worn by the members."
Over the years the group has provided music scholarships and support for Jamestown High School and Jamestown College/University of Jamestown students. The Choralaires supported, mentored and co-performed with the Jamestown Boys Choir during the more than 50 years that group was in existence, having encouraged young vocalists to remain active in song. Some former Boys Choir members grew up to be Choralaires and are still singing today.
"The Choralaires ... since 1955 ... have presented concerts with a variety of themes, performed on television and radio, at conventions, at the Medora Musical, the Garrison (North Dakota) Dickens Festival and at county fairs," Burkhardt said. "In 1983, they became the only North Dakota member of the Associated Male Choruses of America," she said, adding, "Choralaires have hosted AMCofA 'Big Sings' in 1990, 1997, 2004, 2012, 2016, and 2023."
In 1995, the Choralaires were honored as the North Dakota Governor's Chorus, and in 1996 performed at the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award ceremony for Admiral William A. Owens. Then, in 2017, they were invited to perform Randall Thompson's "Testament of Freedom" in a massed male-chorus event in New York City's Carnegie Hall. In 2019, the Choralaires hosted male choruses from across North Dakota to present the 2019 North Dakota Men's Choral Festival.
Members come from all walks of life: farmers, educators, engineers, doctors, scientists, religious personnel, university and high school students, and ordinary men who simply love to sing.
This 70th anniversary will not have original members, but the memory of those "firsts" will be honored. Many who joined have tallied membership into the decades, and that speaks highly of the quality and value of what they do.
Since 1955 six directors have led the group, with 11 accompanists at the piano. Burkhardt is currently in her 28th year, and is the longest-serving director to this point. Richard Walentine is in his eighth year serving as the group's accompanist.
A full slate of vocal ranges (tenors I and II, baritone and bass) are represented in the chorus. Their selections vary in style - sacred, classical, patriotic, country, rock & roll, folk, jazz and a cappella harmony.
Audience responses from earlier performances have noted their "smooth-as-silk" harmony and others commented on how "invigorating" some of their selections were, so their range seems to meet "grander expectations" of discerning audiences.
Advance tickets are available from any Choralaire and at Looysen I Care, or at the door each evening.
This is an event to bring that youngster with you. There's a huge difference in watching musicians on screen versus live and in the same room. The acoustics are different with no need for "surround-sound" speakers. The beauty of attending a live performance of this quality is the "oneness" of the audience to the singers, as well as the evidence that music truly is a life-long passion.
If anyone has an item for this column, please send it to Sharon Cox, PO Box 1559, Jamestown, ND 58402-1559.
Sharon Cox retired in 2020 after 28 years at the University of Jamestown, including as department chair and professor of art.