Spring Show- Part 1

May 16, 2009 Grand Rapids Barbershop Chapter Great Lakes Chorus 70th Anniversary and the 66th Annual Great Lakes Invitational Show. Royce Auditorium, St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom NE Grand Rapids MI

This album contains photos from the first half of the show with WGVU radio host David Moore as MC, the 2008 Large Barbershop Chorus Champions Ionia High School Choir with Director Rose Scheller, the Great Lakes Chorus with Director Curt Struyk and Assistant Director Aaron Bouwman and with members of the Indiana Harmony Brigade, Grand Rapids Chapter quartets Vocal Artisans, Reverie, and collegiate quartet Fountain Street Four. Most of the chorus photos from the audience were by Grand Rapids Chorus Sweet Adelines member Sandra Recker. Also have photos from the Afterglow after the concert at One Trick Pony just across the street.

Chorus Director Curt Struyk is retiring after this performance. He is retiring from his medical practice at the end of June and will be traveling extensively with his wife Nancy. On stage Curt was presented a retirement gift from the chorus by Chapter President and Show Chairman Doug Weaver.

Below is a note of thanks from Director Curt Struyk

I want to thank everyone of you for making this GLI one of the most exciting events of my life! The chorus never sounded better! All the hard work you put in since the first of the year really paid off. The crowd response was a great indicator as to what they thought of the show--there were 8 standing ovations during the show!

A special thank you to Mike O'Donnell for the idea and inspiration to put this show together and to the Indiana Harmony Brigade for helping to make it happen. What a great bunch of men! We can't thank you enough for giving up your weekend to come to Grand Rapids and sing on our show!

Below is a note of thanks to the Indiana Harmony Brigade from one of the GLC organizers Mike O'Donnell.

On behalf of the Grand Rapids Chapter/Great Lakes Chorus...Thank You from the bottom of our collective hearts for giving of your time this past weekend to come and be a part of the Great Lakes Invitational!

I took advantage of trying to get out front and great the people who attended the show and before I could say anything, I was swamped by people wanting to thank me/us for such a great show. Surely this will rank right up near the top of our all time best shows. And YOU helped to make it a success. Moxxy just nailed the America Overlay and kept us on pitch for the big finale number. The combined choruses entertained and sang their way into the hearts of the audience members. Three standing ovations for the body of the first half and a final one for America! I can't remember seeing that ever in 30+ years of barbershopping and I've attended a lot of shows besides ours!

Showtime, Chordiology and Wildcard sang inspired sets to tremendous applause. The Chapter quartets sang songs which delighted the choruses and audience. I wasn't sure but for a minute there, I thought Fountain Street 4 was going to steal the show!

Everything turned out so well. But, the thing which will always be a part of my memory bank is how 26 guys from the Indiana Harmony Brigade took the time and $ to drive to Grand Rapids, MI and be a part of our show. Thank you also to Duane Henry (co-founder of the Indiana Harmony Brigade) who was kind enough to help us get the music and learning CD's at a cost of about $1000 and to share the script with us.

If scrolling through the photo album be sure to check all pages for more photos.


For high speed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended or click here

Check next album Spring Show- Part 2, for more photos

Side Note; There a great photo from the Afterglow with 3 Tibetan gentlemen posing with Chordiology. They are guests of GLC member Jeff Chesnut and his wife Dawn. These men spent the last 18 years in a refugee camp in Tibet because of persecution in Bhutan. This was not only their first barbershop concert but their first concert of any kind. They totally loved it! They said that it was a night they'd remember for the rest of their lives.