GIRARDOT ROSE CHORUS HAS A DIRECTOR, SETS SEASON SINGOUTS

Pat McClain will make her debut as director of the Girardot Rose Chorus of Sweet Adelines International during the group's Christmas Singouts to be held Tuesday.

The Christmas Singouts program will include 20 minutes of favorite carols by the barbershop chorus and a song from the Hearts Achord quartet.

Tuesday's schedule will include five stops, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Lindenwood Apartments, 1105 Linden. The group will appear at the Fountainbleau Lodge, 2001 N. Kingshighway, at 7 p.m., and at the Veterans Home at 7:30 p.m. Two stops are at Jackson: at the Monticello House at 8 p.m., and the Golden Corral at 8:20 p.m.

Chorus members will conclude the evening with a Christmas party at the home of Al and Judy Dieckman in Jackson.

McClain has been a member of Sweet Adelines International 19 years. Until her present affiliation with Girardot Rose Chorus, she was a member and assistant director of St. Louis Harmony Chorus. She sings tenor and baritone and has quartet experience with the Midwest Express.

McClain and her husband, Greg, and children Nathan and Nicole live at Oakville, more than 100 miles from Cape Girardeau.

"It's great to be working with this group," said McClain. "One of the things that prompted me to accept the job of directing a chorus 120 miles from home is my love of barbershop harmony."

Rehearsals are held each Tuesday, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

"Interested women are encouraged to visit us any time," said Jo Ann Bock, chapter president. "We're in the midst of a membership drive and start new music during our Jan. 7 rehearsal."

Twenty-one members currently make up the Girardot Rose Chorus roster, including five from Cape Girardeau: Bock, Judy Hanebrink, Virginia Harris, Charlotte Hazen and Irene Stevens. Jackson members include Judy Kieckman, Jeanette Hinze and Bertsell Smith.

Other members from Missouri are Sandra Bollinger, Georgia Graham and Peg Thompson, all of Benton; Holly Thomas of Oak Ridge; Kelly Wade of Sikeston; and McClain.

Seven members are from Illinois: Fae Bankert of Gondola; Charlotte Palmer and Judy Hogendobler, both of Villa Ridge; Kay Johnson and Judy Wadley, both of Cairo; Ruth Myhre of Mounds; and Jo Anne Wolford of Cache.