Grand Olympics Chorus, friends revive the 1960s

By Michael Dashiell • April 10, 2024 1:30 am

Feelin’ groovy? If not, a Volkswagen van full of local singers can help with that.

The Grand Olympics Chorus will host a musical extravaganza featuring songs from the 1960s sung in four-part or barbershop harmony at “A Grand Musical Adventure!,” set for two performances at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave.

Along with the chorus itself, the concert features Juan de Fuca Harmony, Makin’ Treble, No Batteries Required, Rhapsody, and the Rainshadow Singers, along with the Port Angeles High School Symphonic Choir.

Photo courtesy of Rhapsody / Rhapsody

The show’s songs are linked together by a storyline chorus members developed based on short, 10-minute production they developed for a competition in the spring of 2023, musical director Connie Alward said.

“This show is an expansion of that,” she said. “Our group won the audience choice award; they’ really enjoyed our ’60s thing.”

That production spawned from chorus members learning 1960s-era songs together when the Covid-19 pandemic forced them to meet on Zoom.

Photo courtesy of Makin’ Treble / Makin’ Treble

“A Grand Musical Adventure!” links songs from the chorus, the Juan de Fuca Harmony, the high school choir and the three quartets with a simple storyline: chorus members are on their way back home from a musical festival when their bus breaks down, and they’re stuck at a rest stop. Fittingly, in a scene when the group’s bus fails to start, members sing Simon and Garfunkel’s “Sounds of Silence.”

There, they meet other groups returning from the same festival, each bringing their musical talents to the story.

Photo courtesy of Grace Notes / Grace Notes

The high school choir has some 1960s-era songs to offer, Alward notes, including “Happy Together,” “Build Me Up Buttercup” and a Beatles medley.

Alward’s personal favorite chorus pieces is The Mamas and Papas’ “California Dreamin’” that had the audience from the 2023 spring competition out of their seats with arms waving.

Photo courtesy of Rainshadow Singers / Rainshadow Singers

The Rainshadow Ringers, a handbell ensemble, will provide entertainment during intermission.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun; the whole show’s been a blast to put together,” Alward said.

Tickets are $15 and are available at GrandOlympicsChorus.org.

Photo courtesy of Juan De Fuca Harmony / Juan De Fuca Harmony

Funds raised from the concert — which also features a silent auction — go toward purchasing music and covering competition registration fees for the nonprofit groups, Alward said.

Grand Olympics Chorus is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and a chapter of Sweet Adelines International.