Senior choir singer: ‘This group has become family to me’

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“I had a lot of support, but my older sister Betty used to say, ‘When it’s time to dry the dishes, it’s time for Lois to go practice the piano,’ ” said Rush, a Kettering resident.

Her Sunday school performances grew into a musical trio at Bethel Baptist through junior high school, high school and college. Besides singing, she accompanied groups at Tecumseh High School. She continued musical performances at Ohio State, where she majored in dental hygiene. So it was a natural fit for her to join the Kettering Senior Show Choir 15 years ago.

“Bill Rish started it, and we had to audition back then,” said Rush. “I just like to sing, period. We have a lot of fun, and this group has become family to me.”

The Kettering Senior Show Choir currently has 34 members age 55 and older. Besides Rush, six others are original members: Nancy Denlinger, Barbara Eckley, Dorie Howell, Ron Knipfer, Janet Myers and Carol Williams. It is sponsored by the City of Kettering through the Charles Lathrem Senior Center. The choir performs dozens of times a year throughout the greater Miami Valley.

“We do a thing called ‘Richard Rogers in Concert.’ My favorites are performing ‘My Funny Valentine,’ ‘Oklahoma’ and ‘June Is Busting Out All Over,’ ” said Rush.

The choir typically performs 45-minute programs at senior centers, churches and other venues. There are 11 performances scheduled through Aug. 15, and include performances at 2:30 p.m. on June 29 and July 3 at Pristine Senior Living, 2:30 p.m. on July 18 at St. Leonard, and a 10:40 a.m. performance at Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren on July 30. Choir members come from all over: Beavercreek, Dayton, Huber Heights, Miamisburg, Trotwood, Waynesville and Xenia among others.

“It’s amazing how our performances affect the residents,” said Rush. “You’ll see them singing along or mouthing the words. It’s great to be able to make people happy.”

Raymonde Rougier of Dayton joined the choir as accompanist in the fall of 2002. She took over as director two years later when Rish was unable to continue. She worked as a music teacher for Kettering City Schools for 30 years.

“I love the fact that the members of the show choir want to learn new music and get better and better at singing what they already know,” said Rougier, who grew up in Kettering and is a Fairmont West graduate. “They let me get very picky about vowel sounds and getting word endings crisp and clear.”

This season’s list of music: “Moon River,” “Put a Little Love in Your Heart,” “Freedom Song” and the Richard Rodgers medley. Other years they have sung a “Big Band Bash,” “The Sounds of Silence” and “For Good” (from “Wicked”). Every year they add a song or two to their repertoire.

The choir has a Christmas program they start practicing in summer. They put on 12 performances from Nov. 13 to Dec. 20.

New members welcome

The Kettering Senior Show Choir always welcomes new members; no audition or music reading required. Anyone interested in joining the choir or booking a performance should go online to playkettering.org, or call the choir membership representative at 937-435-8066.