From the Guestbook
Cheryl Nave Freeman '58-'61
My experiences in Laurelaires (1958-1961) contributed to my life work, my avocation (and nice source of additional income), and to moving me from "shy kid" to comfortable performer and public speaker. One place Laurelaires sang was the Intermountain Deaconess Children's Home (called an orphanage) in Helena. As accompanist, I was first on stage, and as Miss B. waited for the crowd of children to settle down, I recall two thoughts: (1) "There are a lot of children here, and they are not infants," and (2) "If I have anything to do with it when I'm an adult, kids like these will have families." Two of our four children joined us via adoption (both were in orphanages), and I've worked professionally and as a volunteer in youth work, family and child welfare (much of it adoption-related), and mental health for most of my adult life.
As some of you recall, Miss B. "set me up" my senior year--signing me up to sing at music festival. First day of school my senior year, she told me, "You are going to take voice lessons from me this year, young lady." I responded, "Okay, but I will NOT sing in any contests." She signed me up to compete--without my knowledge until after it was too late to back out. To my amazement, her manipulation led me to college scholarships in vocal music, and to many years of enjoying singing as well as playing piano and organ. She would have been delighted to know I celebrated turning 40 by playing leading lady in an opera! The many experiences doing music in groups, whether singing, playing, or directing, have greatly enriched my life and produced wonderful friendships. When I'm doing music well, I sincerely hope that what listeners hear is the overflow of my grateful heart.
Lynn Latham Price '71
After high school I went to Rocky for one year and studied music. I married and spent the next 20 or so years directing church choirs, giving piano lessons and singing in various choirs. I was finally lucky enough to return to college at the University of Maryland, College Park and was awarded a degree in music education. I have taught general music, choir, and band in the public schools since receiving my degree. My musical concentration in college and life in general has been vocal music, but I was lucky enough to have a mentor along the way who introduced me to the joys of beginning band! I believe that the music education that I received in Laurel, Montana was excellent and has propelled me on to great musical adventures!
I can't wait for the reunion and I am looking forward to receiving the music.
Roger Freeberg '59
My involvement with Laurelaires in 1957-1959 was so fulfilling during my high school years and has been a major influence on my love for choral music to this day. After graduating from Montana State in 1964 and following an Army tour in Korea, I was stationed in Ft. Benning, GA where I sang in the Main Post Chapel choir. I met my wife, Nancy, while stationed there and who also sang in that choir. Sharing a common interest in music is important to us as we have both continued singing in church choirs since 1965.
Laurelaires was also important to my brother, Dale, who passed away in 1995. Dale loved singing as well and continued to be active in his church choir until his sudden passing. Having a reunion such as you are planning has great significance for all of us who have been involved with Laurelaires over the years. More than a reunion, it is a reminder to us as parents and grandparents of how significant being involved in a music program in high school was to us. It developed life-long interests that continue to be fun and rewarding throughout our entire lives and ones we can pass on to our families. Being able to reunite and again participate as a group (although a much larger group) in a choral concert is exciting to me and I can't tell you enough how much I applaud your efforts.
Jennine Funk Budge '58
I graduated from the Univ. of Montana in Missoula with a degree in music education. For six of my teaching years (not consecutive), I taught choral and elementary music. Not foreseeing what it meant to get an elementary education degree added on, I chose the life of correcting papers, individual planning for remedial students for fifteen years, and have spent the last nine years teaching sixth grade language arts and social studies. Music has lots of ensemble time, granted, but it has starting and ending points within the school year, unlike classroom teaching which never lets up until the week after the last kid leaves for summer!
My decision was based upon wanting to have a vocation when I knew my avocation would be music, and it has been just that. At my last counting, I believe I have belonged to about 15 church choirs, give or take a few, sometimes being assistant director, sometimes being the director, and presently even accompanying a youth and a children's choir. During our four years of living in Salt Lake City, I sang with the Utah Chorale, which was the recording choir for the Salt Lake Symphony before the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was. It was a wonderful group, and we had three concerts per year in the Tabernacle--a lovely place to sing, although as a concert-goer, the acoustics are overrated.
I was a member of the Montana Chorale, a chamber choir, under the direction of Kenyard Smith for 12 years, and loved every minute of it. We took some marvelous trips, including one where we represented the United States at the International Choral Festival in Spittal, Austria in the summer of 1984. We also established the Montana Festival of the Rockies, but that has since changed and the Chorale is no longer involved.
Presently, I belong to the Carteret Chorale, a semi- professional group in Morehead City, North Carolina. Our "esteemed" director, Laurence Stith, was himself a performer on Broadway and an accompanist to the pop singer, Jane Morgan. We have sung in the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., in Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg, Va. a number of times, and have at least two dinner theater concerts a years. Laurence is a well-known musician in this area, and it is fun singing with his group. His forte is Broadway music, but he arranges and writes a number of pieces himself, mostly sacred. Our next "gig" is supposed to be in Beaufort, N.C. during the time I will be in Montana, so I will have to forego that one. Since I have belonged to this group for about seven years, I have a number of good friends there.
So far, I am still a first soprano, although high C is about out of my range now. (-: I love singing, always have and probably always will, God grant that I am allowed to continue. I am sincerely looking forward to singing with this Laurelaire reunion choir, and I am only sorry that Bob Middleton, Keron Chapman, and Dale Freeberg have taken leave prior to this time. They were all wonderful people, as musicians seem to be!!
Laurelaires was probably the highlight of my years in high school. Miss Berland helped me see that college was a possibility, and with her help, I received scholarships, student loans, and a work study job. In the fall of 1982, I attended the MMEA convention in Missoula and saw Miss Berland for the first time since l960. She was unwell at that time, but I had the opportunity to tell her what a difference she had made in my life--that without her support, I would have certainly taken a different path. She died the month after I visited with her, so I felt blessed to have been given that chance meeting.
Lysa
Fox 1981-1984
Music was the reason I got up and went to school every morning! I swear, If
Concert Choir hadn't been my first class, I never would have bothered.
When I think of all my best memories of high school, it has to do with music and
especially Laurelaires. Music and performance really is my life now.
My husband and I have a theatre company (Venture Theatre - check us out at
venturetheatre.com) and to date, I have just past my 100th show that I've either
been in, choreographed, or directed. That's a lot of shows since "Anything
Goes" in 1983! Even after 100 shows, I'll always be grateful to John
Asher for giving me my first leading role. I'm thrilled that Mr. Asher will be
our director and am very excited about the reunion!
Tracy (Fox) DuFresne 1983
Can't wait to see everyone at the reunion!
Norman Kline 1964-1965
This is great. Looking forward to the reunion and the concert.
Joanne King(Reichert) 1966-1967
Great web site. What a great walk down memory lane. Wish I had some pics saved to contribute but they seem to have been misplaced. At this point it doesn't look like I can make the reunion concert but will definately keep checking this site for more pics and updates..Thanks
Ann "Punki" Wagnitz Bullis 1965-1966
It will be a great reunion. Am looking forward to seeing lots of old friends and having a really good time over the 4th.
Dave Barrett 1983-1986
I look forward to July with great anticipation! What a wonderful opportunity! And, to have John Asher (MY high school choir director)there, makes it all the more wonderful. I'm planning to be there...I hope YOU are too!
Dave Ebert 1967-1968
Really looking forward to the reunion this summer!!!! See you there!!
Tom Rohling 1965-66
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see old friends, make new friends, and have a great time. Once again - music brings people together. See ya there!!
Barbara Wagnitz Schnase 1967-1969
It was a kick to look at the Laurelaire pictures, brings back memories.
Ted Rohling 1963-1965
My ability to work in front of people grew from the music, speech and drama at LHS. I often regret that Miss Berland left at the end of my sophomore year because she would have made me do much more in music than I did. I played in one musical, South Pacific, in 1977 and since then I have been a "hummer". I just hum along. I value my expereinces in choir, as drum major and in theater at school almost as much as the excellent education I received...in spite of myself. Putting this site together has been a lot of fun. Send any pictures that you have...!
Lynn Latham Price '71I thought that I would tell you a little about how music has been a part of my life. After high school I went to Rocky for one year and studied music. I married and spent the next 20 or so years directing church choirs, giving piano lessons and singing in various choirs. I was finally lucky enough to return to college at the University of Maryland, College Park and was awarded a degree in music education. I have taught general music, choir, and band in the public schools since receiving my degree. My musical concentration in college and life in general has been vocal music, but I was lucky enough to have a mentor along the way who introduced me to the joys of beginning band! I believe that the music education that I received in Laurel, Montana was excellent and has propelled me on to great musical adventures!
Joanne Menello Simpson 1962-1965
I'm really looking forward to singing and visiting with all you! See you in July!
Renie Hall Clements 1978-1980
My first experience with Laurelaires happened long before I was in high school. Having the Laurelaires sing at the grade school Christmas assembly was something I looked forward to every year.....yearning to be chosen to hold the hand of a pretty girl or handsome boy as they walked around while singing "Sleigh Ride". Then it was soon my turn and I was the one singing carols and reaching for the hand of an anxious child. The inspiration of David Blood led me to the University of Montana to study choral music. My first music job was for the Bridger Public schools where Mr. Blood's son Zach was a fourth grader. A dream job teaching choral music at a large high school took me south to Idaho Falls. Now I was directing several choirs and had a group very similiar to Laurelaires. Many times I have reflected on the full circle of my musical life. Now as president of the Idaho American Choral Directors Association I have the added blessing of being a mentor to and collaborating with choral directors from Idaho and other Northwest states, including Montana. It's been exciting to be on all sides of the stage....as a performer, conductor and now adjudicator and clinician for choirs in Idaho, Montana and Utah. This is such a grand idea. I am so looking forward to participating in this endeavor. To those of you working so hard to make this a special event for so many people.....thank you very much.