×

Parkersburg High School gears up for centennial celebration

Jean Singer was “swamped” by responses when she posted information on her Facebook page about an upcoming Parkersburg High School A Cappella Choir event.

“The kids want to be a part of the Parkersburg High School Centennial A Cappella presentation,” Singer told me this week.

A history of the award-winning PHS A Cappella Choir will be presented in song and more at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 29 in the PHS Fieldhouse.

The choir’s performance, featuring alumni and current A Cappella Choir members, is part of the PHS Centennial Celebration set for Aug. 25-29.

Aug. 29 is the “big day” for the celebration as Aug. 29, 1917 was the day PHS opened at its current location on Dudley Avenue. Other events scheduled for that day are the burial of the time capsule on the front campus at 6 p.m., the Big Red Band performing at 6:30 p.m. on the front campus, a ceremony in the fieldhouse at 7 p.m. with dignitaries and former principals attending, followed by the alumni choir concert at 7:30 p.m. directed by Singer, Cathy Martin and Pamela McClain.

Nashville singer-songwriter Arlos “Bub” Smith, a former member of the PHS A Cappella Choir, is scheduled to perform during the choir concert.

David Rexroad, a former actor in New York City and now an actor in Parkersburg, is helping Singer with the choir show. Brett Meade, Singer’s student assistant when he attended PHS, is again helping his former teacher by keeping track of choir alumni wanting to sing in the show.

Other centennial celebration activities include Friday, Aug. 25, opening football game of the season at 7 p.m. as the Big Reds face St. Albans at Stadium Field; Saturday, Aug. 26, 8 a.m., 5K Fun Run, 10 a.m. to noon, Parkersburg High School open for guided tours; Sunday, Aug. 27, 1 p.m., Kona Ice Social and cookout on front campus and PHS open for guided tours; Monday, Aug. 28, 3:30 p.m., alumni tours of PHS and presentation by historian Brian Kesterson at 7 p.m. in the PHS auditorium.

Additional details on the centennial celebration will be listed at parkersburghighschoolfoundation.org and on the foundation’s Facebook page.

PHS teacher Charles Gesell is producing a documentary on the history of Parkersburg High School, while PHS teacher Michele Binegar created a photo display of the school and is designing a centennial logo.

Singer, PHS A Cappella Choir director from 1965-1997, is excited about seeing her former students perform in the Aug. 29 show.

“I loved every minute of it,” Singer said of her time as choir director.

And the former students are looking forward to singing for the PHS Centennial Celebration.

About 150 A Cappella Choir alumni have signed up to perform in the Aug. 29 program, and Singer expects that number to swell to 200.

People can sign up to sing by going to the centennial celebration link at parkersburghighschoolfoundation.org.

Singer is getting notes and letters almost daily from PHS alumni wanting to participate.

“Someone just told me she has her plane ticket and is coming in from Kansas City for the PHS show,” Singer said.

Ed Goe will be narrator for the choir show and provide a history of the A Cappella Choir. The choir was started in 1931 by Marie Boette, who was followed by directors Esther Cunningham, Jean Singer, Cathy Martin and current director Pamela McClain.

Singer listed some of the highlights of the Aug. 29 choir show as the candlelight processional with “O Come Emmanuel,” the musical festival favorite “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” PHS Revue highlights, the current A Cappella Choir singing “Country Roads” and “Home Among the Hills,” and the three directors conducting “Hallelujah Chorus” and “PHS Alma Mater.”

Singer noted the PHS A Cappella Choir and Chamber Choir performed for the American Choral Directors National Conference, the music educators national conference in Miami Beach and at state conventions as an honor choir. Singer formed the PHS Chamber Choir in 1973 — a group that has won many competitions throughout the country.

A “big thrill” for Singer as A Cappella Choir director was leading the PHS students, who were in the stands, in singing the “PHS Alma Mater” at halftime of football games at Stadium Field.”

“My goal is to keep this (choir) going,” Singer said.

Contact Paul LaPann at plapann@newsandsentinel.com

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today