20 Years of Concert Choir Success Celebrated at Grant City Art in the Park

Grant City’s Sesquicentennial Art in the Park Celebration was capped off Saturday afternoon with a 20 year reunion of members of Mr. Jim Spiers’ concert choir. Over 30 members of Spiers’ concert choir who performed during his years teaching music at Worth County along with section leaders of the “Joyful Noise” group accompanied by new music teacher Ms. Alyssa Kramer on the violin performed several numbers to cap off the afternoon performance. Even though they had never performed together and in many cases never knew each other before last weekend, it was as though all of them had performed together for many years. “I grew up watching many of these people singing,” said Carrie (Hart) Dannar. “It was neat to come back and perform with them.”

Spiers is now giving private piano, singing, and instrumental lessons to area youth and his students performed for a large audience for most of the afternoon Saturday. The pool was open for a free swim, but most of the people preferred to watch and listen as a whole group of talented young musicians performed. It is never too late to learn how to sing or play an instrument and a few of his students were young at heart, always ready to learn or improve a new skill.

There was a wide variety of songs performed from classical pieces like Mozart and Beethoven to contemporary songs. One of the more creative pieces was performed by Kaylee and Claire McElvain, who sang and played a cup in rhythm for accompaniment. Other creative pieces included Trent Gabriel, who greased his hair all up and performed the 1960’s tune “Greased Lightning” and Dakota Owsley, who performed two songs that he himself composed. A band consisting of Jubal Summers, Len and Cody Green, Josh Warner, Dakota Owsley, and Mr. Spiers also performed some numbers.

Among students who performed at the event were Keelin Engel performing “Danny Boy” and “Call me Maybe,” Olivia Kanak performing “Lavender Blue” on the piano, Jeremy Wimer singing “All right all right,” and Kaylee McElvain performing a number on the alto sax.

Susie (Hardy) Newman performed two gospel songs, “Ave Maria” and “How Great Thou Art.” Keelin Engel played Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” on the piano. Merrideth Spiers played a minuet by Mozart on her French horn. Dominique Findley sang the song “Home.” Jacob Wimer sang “Wagon Wheel.” Teacher Jodi Lawrence sang a variety of country and gospel solos. Tanner Parman sang “Irish Rainbow” and “God Bless the USA.” Jill Hardy played the classical piece “Fur Elise.” Olivia Kanak sang “Part of your world” from the Little Mermaid movie and “Tomorrow” from the drama Orphan Annie, a song which was popular back in the 1980’s. Braidy Hunt played a guitar accompaniment to “Scarborough Fair.”