Each year before the Park City Singers presents its spring concerts, they choose a theme.
In the past, themes have included Mother’s Day and Broadway showtunes.
This year, the singers will revisit Broadway for its annual spring concerts held Friday and Sunday, May 18 and 20, said president Marty Stattin.
“We’ll be singing some wonderful songs,” Stattin said during an interview with The Park Record. “These are hits that people love ‘Memory’ from ‘Cats’ and songs from ‘Les Miserables,’ ‘Phantom of the Opera’ and ‘The Sound of Music,’ you know, the familiar tunes that I think everyone enjoys.”
The singers came up with the list after doing some online research.
“We went and picked the 10, all-time favorite Broadway songs, much like what we did when we chose our Christmas songs for the holiday concerts in December,” Stattin said. “Then we figured out what music we have access to and which ones we could afford to perform.”
Pianist Shelle Jennings, director Debra Cook and a number of the singers’ board members look at which tunes they feel the Park City Singers can do well.
“What it really comes down to are the ones we like to do,” Stattin said with a laugh. “We chose Broadway this year again because there is such an upbeat collection of songs and springtime is a great time for them.”
Stattin said as the choir rehearses, the melodies take her back to nostalgic times of her life.
“I think everybody remembers seeing all these plays and musicals,” she said. “I’m sure they even think of past Park City Singers concerts that have special meanings for them.”
Some of the chosen songs, such as the ones chosen from “Les Miserables,” have powerful political statements.
“They kind of put things into perspective for us as a community choir,” Stattin said. “Music has a way of helping us deal in a healing sort of way with things that are really tough in our lives.”
Rehearsals began in February, two months after the holiday concerts, and as with each year, there are fewer people in the choir for the spring concerts, because some Park City residents are seasonal.
“We lose about 20 singers because they go back their other homes during the warmer weather,” Stattin explained. “But we still are able to put on a great show because of the amount of talent we have here year around.”
The Park City Singers began as a church choir in 1995.
“Helen Finch was the choir director at the Park City Community Church and she was phenomenal,” Stattin said. “She would direct and play the piano and people would start coming to the choir.”
Shortly afterwards, a group was formed that was comprised of many different choirs.
“That was the genesis of the group,” Stattin said. “We started singing around town and officially formed into the Park City Singers.”
As it was 17 years ago, the Park City Singers is still a non-audition choir.
“People who want to be a part of the choir just have to commit to show up for practices for the upcoming concert,” Stattin said.
Some of the concerts the group has performed not only include the spring and holiday performances, but also the Fourth of July parade and the Winter Olympics in 2002.
“We pretty much are on hand around town where there is need for a community choir,” Stattin said. “It’s great fun and I know the community enjoys it.
“The talent and the professionalism in this town continues to amaze me after all these years,” she said.
The Park City Singers will perform Friday, May 18, at Park City Community Church, 4501 S.R. 224, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 20, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 4595 N. Silver Springs Rd, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children younger than 10 years old. Tickets available at Smith’s Food and Drug, the Market at Park City and Cole Sport and the door. For more information, visit www.parkcitysingers.com.