Central choir alumni to reunite for October performances

Graduates of Cape Girardeau Central High School are organizing the school's first choir alumni reunion and concert, where they will sing the national anthem and alma mater at the homecoming football game, as well as perform a public concert at Kinder Performance Hall.

The event begins at 7 p.m. Oct. 2 at the homecoming game, where alumni will perform with the Cape Central Marching Tigers. Singers will rehearse all day Oct. 3 at Kinder Hall, with a break for a catered lunch. The free concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and an after-party will follow.

Elizabeth Seesing, a 1979 graduate who now works at the high school, said an idea for the reunion came after several graduates participated in two Southeast Missouri State University choir alumni reunions.

At the March reunion, they were reunited with former choir director Judy Williams, who worked at the school from 1966 to 1996.

Seesing and her former classmates asked Williams, who lives in Tennessee, whether she would be interested in returning for a high-school choir alumni reunion.

"She said she would love to do that, so we got the ball rolling from there," Seesing said, adding Williams will lead eight songs at the concert. "There are a lot of people who sang in Judy's choirs. However, anyone who has ever sung in a choir at Cape Central High School is welcome to come."

Seesing said some of her best memories of high school are from choir.

"It's definitely a kinship that's very close, because we work together as a team and get to know each other," she said. "We just thought that it would be a good opportunity to get people together. And maybe even if they don't come back for their class reunion, something like this will draw people."

Tom Vaughn, a 1980 graduate of Central High School, lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and has spent his life singing and doing ensemble work.

He also attended the Southeast choir alumni reunion in March and plans to return to Cape Girardeau for the high-school choir reunion.

"What I look forward to is going back and singing with those voices," he said, comparing the experience to singing with family. "I would encourage people, whether this has been their mainstay or something they did in high school, I would encourage them if they had any involvement in the choir to register and make sure they attend so they can see each other and catch up and get that chance to work as an ensemble again."

Vaughn said it also is a chance to work with Williams, adding alumni had in her "a truly remarkable and gifted educator."

Interested alumni are asked to visit the group's Facebook page, CHS Choir Alumni, where additional event details can be found, including cost of registration and the steps for ordering music.

Those who do not have access to Facebook may call Elizabeth Seesing at (573) 335-8228.

klamb@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3639

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, Mo.