LAGO VISTA—The Hill Country Singers 15th Anniversary Celebration last weekend brought former singers from out of town and a former director to its Sunday matinee performance.
The festive concerts, held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, honored both former and longstanding members during the Sunday matinee show at K-Oaks Clubhouse. The accolade followed with a Thanksgiving dinner prepared by Travis Oaks Baptist Church and served by HCS volunteers.
Brenda Rogers, mistress of ceremonies, interspersed her song introductions with remarks about the history of the Singers. She served as chairman of the event, and conducted research for several months in order to identify and locate past singers and directors who were invited to participate in the celebration. HCS Board President Ginger Halsted said she was pleased with the results, which brought George Mather, HCS’ second director, to the concert.
“It makes it worth the effort to run the music program,” she said. “I was so pleased that George Mather came.”
The HCS committee conceived the concert program, “The Best of The Singers,” selecting songs from concerts of previous years. “They found 40 they would like to do,” current HCS Director William Parcher said, “which were too many for one concert program. So we have made it a Part One and Part Two celebration.” Part Two will be the Spring Concert during the last weekend in April.
“The Singers have a record of outdoing themselves each season,” Parcher said. “They did it again this weekend, rising gloriously to the occasion of their 15th anniversary. I had the privilege of greeting many wonderful singers who have since moved away.  But I was particularly honored to meet Mr. George Mather, of whom so many singers speak with great fondness.”
The widely varied program included show tunes like “Singin’ In The Rain,”  “Music Man” and “Over The Rainbow.” The Singers sang spirituals like “Keep Your Lamps” and “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.”
“Climb Every Mountain” from “The Sound of Music” was an audience favorite, as was “Pie Jesu,” visibly moving the audience with the solo voices of the concert including Gretchen McCurley and Rena Fuller.
A special feature of the program included longtime singer Mary Rugaard singing one of her favorites from her career in operetta, “Toyland,” a Victor Herbert number from his operetta “Babes In Toyland.” She also sang “Singing In The Rain,” choreographed by Armor Lee Gardner, for dancing and bobbing umbrellas, which brought smiles and laughter from the audience.
Other soloists were Barbara Graham, Cyndi Samford, Bob Camp and Tom Gardner performing “All That Jazz,” and  the Barbershop Quartet—Tom Gardner, Dale Mitchell, Dutch Schultz and Dean Young—singing “Lida Rose.”
A trio called “Two Gins and a Tonic,” active in previous years, were Jinny Guthrie, Rena Fuller and Halsted singing “Jingle Bell Rock.”
Dean Young sang “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” and Parcher sang the all-time favorite, “White Christmas,” inviting the audience to sing with him the second time.
Parcher has formed within the 70-member group a small ensemble of about 20 singers who will perform special numbers and be available to represent the Singers at other events. During the celebration last weekend, the group sang “Dublin Bells Carol.” The group will be performing at the Lago Vista Women’s Club Dec. 8 meeting.
People interested in learning more about Hill Country Singers are invited to visit www.hillcountrysingers.com or call 267-1628.