The Trinity Singers and Ringers, Salisbury Singing Seniors and the Y-Wonders will present a joint concert entitled “May You Always Have a Song” this Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Rufty-Holmes Center, with a reception following. This free performance is open to the public.
The four ensembles are composed of singers who are senior citizens from all walks of life and all musical abilities who share a love of making music. The four directors, Daisy Bost, Karl and Rosemary Kinard and Kathy Norris, conceived the idea of a joint concert in early 2009, and quickly developed a great enthusiasm for the plan to bring their groups together to rehearse and sing and share their joy of music.
Accompanists for the groups, Rob Durocher and Tina Grubb, shared their excitement, and the date for the performance was set for May 31.
The four groups have varied and interesting histories, and range in age from 29 to 98 years old.
The Y Wonders sprang from a beach trip. While returning from a Y-sponsored trip with Barbara Franklin (director of senior services at the YMCA) in 1996, a group of senior citizen Y members were enjoying singing as they traveled. One of the singers suggested that they form a group and enter the Silver Arts competition. So eight people formed the Y Wonders Singers with no director and no accompanist, entered the competition at the Rufty-Holmes Center, and won first place. They took their a cappella talents to the state competition in Raleigh and won third.
From there the group grew over the years with numerous directors and members as they concentrated on performing at nursing homes, senior citizen clubs, and wherever else the group was invited. The Y Wonders is currently a group of 17 very enthusiastic members under the direction of Kathy Norris, who thoroughly enjoys sharing their music with others.
The Salisbury Singing Seniors were organized in the fall of 1980 under the auspices of the Salisbury Recreation Department. Dr. Marvin Wigginton directed the first concert on Dec. 17, with Roy Simmons as accompanist.
In the spring of 1987, following Wigginton’s retirement, Rosemary Kinard became the director. Subsequent directors included Cindy Pribble, Doris Holloway, Beth Young and Sara Linn Drye, who was director/ accompanist for 16 years.
In 2007, Daisy Bost became director/accompanist following the retirement of Drye.
The Salisbury Singing Seniors have around 30 members now, and have just completed their 29th year of singing. Two members have been a part of the group for more than 20 years. Hazel Snyder has been a member for 25 years and Sophia Peacock for 22 years.
The group meets at the Rufty-Holmes Senior Center on Monday afternoons.
The Trinity Singers and Ringers were organized in the fall of 2007, as a joint venture between St. John’s Lutheran Church and the Trinity Oaks Retirement Center.
Rosemary Kinard, associate parish musician at St. John’s, became the director of the Singers. Karl Kinard, music director emeritus at St. John’s, is the director of the Ringers (using a three-octave set of hand-chimes). Accompanist for the Singers is Rob Durocher, director of music ministries at St. John’s.
The groups are composed of residents of Trinity Oaks and friends who are 60 years of age and older. The oldest member of the Singers is 98!
Since their founding, the groups have grown to around 36 members total, and have performed for numerous churches and organizations in the surrounding area, while developing a real sense of community within the membership.