Sisters in Song Women’s Chorus joint concert with Pagosa Springs Girls Choir to feature local artists

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Photo courtesy Linda Parker
The Sisters in Song pose for a photo during preparation for their upcoming concert, where they will share the stage with the Pagosa Springs Girls Choir, on May 9 at 7 p.m. at Community United Methodist Church.

By Linda Parker

Special to The PREVIEW

Sisters in Song will be in concert once again along with the Pagosa Springs Girls Choir (PSGC) on May 9 at 7 p.m. at Community United Methodist Church. The Sisters will sing several selections alone and will also perform a combined number with PSGC.

Conceived by PSGC Director Linda Parker, the women’s chorus was created to share the stage with the Girls Choir at its annual spring concert.

The Sisters have been rehearsing since the beginning of March and are ready to wow Pagosa audiences with their incredible musical talent. The Pagosa community will be amazed at what these ladies have accomplished in just eight short rehearsals.

Their music will include nostalgic tunes from decades past, including “Someone to Watch Over Me” and “Ain’t Misbehavin.” Listeners will surely enjoy remembering these popular songs from days gone by.

“Having a women’s choir provides a great opportunity for the girls to work with a different type of musical group. In the past, we’ve asked soloists and other groups to share the stage on our concerts to give the girls as many varied experiences as possible. Pagosa is full of very talented musicians and I am always grateful that those musicians are willing to give of their time. By working with men and women who continue to enjoy music, even though it isn’t their profession, it shows the girls that music is a lifelong skill,” said Parker. “Through the Sisters, I’ve met many women in Pagosa that are wonderful musicians and I am so humbled that they have joined this group. It is a privilege to work with them, to see their passion for music, and to hear their music come to life.”

Rachel Hellwege-Vaughan, Mel Smith and Diana Kelly, members of Sisters in Song, will be featured soloists on the concert.

Hellwege-Vaughan grew up singing in a trio at her church in addition to singing in her high school choir. She also was a member of the St. Louis Metro Singers. Since moving to Pagosa, Hellwege-Vaughan has become well-known in the Pagosa music community. She is a consistent member of the Pagosa Springs Community Choir and the Jazz Ensemble and she is singing for the second time as a member of the Sisters of Song. Additionally, she sings with the Worship Team at Pagosa Bible Church.

Music has always been a large part of Smith’s life. A third-generation Colorado native, she grew up on the eastern plains of Colorado. Smith began singing at the age of 6 and later began piano lessons, which continued through college. She has sung in many choirs and she had the privilege of singing in a women’s quartet in Fort Morgan, Colo., for four years. The quartet sang at women’s retreats and churches throughout northeastern Colorado. Smith has also shared her talent and her love of working with children with her church over the years by leading children’s music for VBS and Sunday school programs.

Kelly loves musical theater and singing jazz standards and show tunes like the Gershwin classic “Someone to Watch Over Me.” In the past, she has performed in musicals such as Irving Berlin’s “Annie Get Your Gun” in which she played Annie Oakley, and numerous community-level musicals with her children, on stage and running sound and lights. She is looking forward to playing Sister Mary Martin of Tours in Curtains Up Pagosa’s upcoming production of “Sister Act.”

The community is in for a real treat, so make plans now to attend the spring concert of the Pagosa Springs Girls Choir featuring Sisters in Song on May 9 at 7 p.m. at Community United Methodist Church. Admission is free, but your donations will be gratefully accepted.