BORDER CHORDER HISTORY
or What We Did, Starting a Couple Years Ago, In The West
SPRING SHOW "REMEMBER RADIO" Eastwood High School MAY 10,2003The show's featured quartet was The Gas House Gang, one of the members performed his last show in El Paso. Rob Henery will be missed in the Society. He did the show like the trouper he was and non of knew he was sick. The show as you could tell was a salute to old time radio written by the show writing clinic held at Harmony Ranch. The show was fun and had a large cast which the guys of the chorus really filled the bill.
SOUTHWEST DIVISION CONTEST New Braunfels MARCH 2003One of the highlights of this year was being named champions of our plateau at contest. This qualifies us to go to district contest this fall in Corpus Christi.
SINGING VALENTINES FEBUARY 14,2003Singing Valentines seemed to be a big hit again this year five quartets delivered 135 Valentines to our many friends.
HOLIDAY SING-OUTS DEC.2002This Christmas the Sweet Adelines gave two performances one in Las Cruces and the other at Chamizal Memorial Theater. we also sang with the El Paso Wind Symphony in Magiffin Auditorium. These along with our usual Holiday performances.
YOUTH HARMONY EVENT Las Cruces NM. Sept,2002We hosted 60 young men with the help of Diane Schutz vocal teacher at Las Cruces high and a clinican from International. WE will sponcer another quartet to go to Harmony Explosion Camp this summer in Denton.
SPRING SHOW "BARBERSHOP TIME MACHINE" Chamizal Theater MAY 19,2002Our 55th annual show took an "Orwellian" theme this year as we went back in time with our State Rep Pat Haggerty long time friend of the Border Chorders, this appearence makes his fourth. The Noise Boys from Tulsa did a bang up job as they did at our singing clinic called Feb Fest. SINGING VALENTINES FEBUARY 14,2002 This time our biggest fund raiser was a big sucess. Four quartets from our chapter sang 140 singing Valenyines. We thank everyone for their help
SINGING FOR THE HOLIDAYS DEC.2001This year as before we sang for holiday crowds at Bassett center for Chase Financial and others.
GROUP SINGS WITH NATION Oct 28,2001El Paso participated in the God Bles America program sponsored by City Rep John Cook in El Paso's Cohen Stadium.
VOICES ACROSS AMERICA Sept. 30,2001El Paso's Border Chorders and Sun Gold Sweet Adelines joined groups across the country to raise funds by contributing public sing- outs to help the American Red Cross.
FIVE MEMBERS ATTEND HARMONY RANCH June 2,2001Ron Dettman, Jorge Acevedo, John Hollis, Edward Appleson, and Gayle Hageman attended the district's Harmony Ranch in Denton, Texas June 1-3. Jorge, Gayle, John and Edward received coaching for their quartet, "Tonal Accord", and Dettman attended classes including Vocal Production, the Standing Ovation Program, and Producing the Youth Harmony Explosion Activities. The Border Chorders sponsored Teacher Diane Schutz and four high school students from Las Cruces to the Harmony Explosion Camp at Denton. In addition, Las Cruces brought four other young men to the camp. They used our sponsorship to help defray the expenses for the entire group and earned money to pay for whatever was left over. Every member of our chorus should be proud of the representation we had at the Youth Explosion. These eight young men became a part of the 122 voice youth chorus representing Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and New Mexico, which performed Saturday Night in the North Texas State University Performing Arts Center along with the Vocal Majority's 150+members. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house when we heard the youth chorus perform. They were simply outstanding. The three-day camp for them had to have been an inspiring experience. Those of us who were fortunate enough to be there certainly realize that our chorus must continue to find the funds to keep this activity in our year's schedule. I hope that more of our members will plan to attend Harmony Ranch next year. Whether or not the chorus budet will allow subsidizing our attendance. This is an opportunity to learn, to improve, to be inspired and refreshed. We all need to be there. Ron Dettman
SPRING SHOW "RETURN to RIVER CITY Chamizal Theater MAY 19 ,2001Right on the heels of the division contest, our 54th annual show was staged at the Chamizal National Memorial Theater on May 19,2001 Great work by the actors and actresses and even the children helped make "Return to River City" a success. Rand Kennedy from UTEP and Kathy Kelly from the El Paso Playhouse led the way as they added their talents to that of the chorus and B-Sharps to put on the show. Don Howard showed a lot of class by taking on the role of Harold Hill and doing a bang-up job. Frank Laverpool stepped in at the last moment and amazed us all with his double role as a chorus member and as a member of the acting segment as well. Comments from the audience after the show indicated they were very pleased with the performance of NIGHTLIFE, the 1996 International Quartet Champions who headlined the show. And the Rogues of the Rio Grande demonstrated why they were Division Champions by performing their excellent portion. Mike testers "Tonal Accord", got some on-stage experience with their crowd-pleasing rendition of "Bye Bye Blues", and Celebration showed off new songs with excellent harmony. Several patrons expressed their pleasure with comments like "This was the best I have ever heard the Border Chorders sing." The stage presence and the interpretation on such numbers as "Lida Rose", "Wells Fargo Wagon", "Seventy-Six Trombones", and others came through. For all of us, the two performances were tiring, but we felt good about our work. Ron Dettman
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT CONTEST San Antonio MARCH 10,2001It is hard to imagine the feelings of pride the twenty-nine members of the Border Chorders experienced at being named the Most-Improved Chorus in the Southwestern District Southwest Division Chorus Contest which was held in San Antonio, Texas, March 10, 2001. In addition, the chorus, under the direction of Bob Calderon, garnered a fourth place out of the nine choruses competing, beating out several other chapters with more singers on stage than El Paso. Our score also qualified us to compete in the District Contest to be held in Little Rock, Arkansas in October. It was a long drive, but the trip was well worth it, and when we finally realized that all of the intense work that Bob put us through had paid off, that just doubled our pride and satisfaction. In addition, watching the members of the "Rogues of the Rio Grande" capture first place in the quartet competition made us extremely proud of them. Looking at the scores for the chorus competition, El Paso came close to taking third place. We scored 381 points and trailed Centroplex, Texas by only nine points. Ron Dettman 2001 Dave Williams takes over the Border Rechorder after a layoff. Find very little news.
SINGING VALENTINES FEBUARY 14-18,2001Four quartets sang 118 Valentines from Thursday through Sunday and did the best we have done in five years. The quartets were "Borderline Harmony, Music & Memories, Whatever Four, and the ever present Volunteer Valentine IV. Two customers, who shall remain nameless, Brought Valentines for seven (7) different women. One guy sent a Valentine to his girl friend and his wife (name also withheld) some guys never learn.
1999 AUG. Ron Dettman takes over Border Rechorder when editor goes inactive
and does a really fine getting out all the news "that's fit to print".
FIRST YOUTH HARMONY EVENT Las Cruces NM. Sept,1998In responce to the Society's poll and study of members we decided to try this new program to encourage youngsters to try barbershop harmony. It got a lot of help from the vacal music director from Las Cruces High School in fact the boys were all from her classes. Yes, Diane Schutz really got us started. 1990 Ninth place Southwestern District in New Orleans,37 Men. Dir: Calderon, Score 782 1987 Thirteenth place Southwestern District in Houston, 24 Men. Dir: Eby, Score 732
FIRST SINGING VALENTINES FEBUARY 14,1987After hearing about this new money raiser the Border Chorders tried it out with fantastic results. 1984 Eighth place Southwestern District in New Orleans, 45 Men. Dir: Eby, Score 760 1983 Ninth place Southwestern District in Dallas, 42 Men. Dir: Eby, Score 735 1982 Ninth place Southwestern District in San Antonio, 45 Men. Dir: Eby Score 680 1981 Champs Division I Southwestern District, 42 Men. Dir: Eby Score 376 1980 Third place Southwestern District in Dallas, 81 Men. Dir: Dolt Score 813 1979 Fourth place Southwestern District in New Orleans, 70 Men. Dir: Dolt Score 800 1977 Fifth place Southwestern District in Houston, 51 Men. Dir: Dolt Score 771 1976 Third place Southwestern District in San Antonio, 45 Men. Dir: Dolt Score 855 1975 Sixth place Southwestern District in Abilene,xx Men. Dir: Laravee Score 855 1973 Eleventh place Southwestern District in Oklahoma City,xx Men. Dir: McKinney Score 870 Moved to Knights of Columbus Hall on Hueco. Last show at Liberty Hall. 1969 Leave Cortez Hotel Meeting PLace. 1968 Seventh place Southwestern District in Dallas,xx Men. Dir: Hutchins Score 1122 1967 Fifth Southwestern District in Dallas, 42 Men. Dir: Hutchins Score 1303 1966 Fourth Southwestern District in Houston, 50 Men. Dir: Laurel Score 1295 1964 Champs International in San Antonio, 53 Men. Dir: Laurel Score 2368 1963 First Southwestern District in Ft. Worth, 44 Men. Dir: Laurel Score 763 Host Spring Pre-Lims May 4 in Liberty Hall. 1962 Third International in Kansas City, 53 Men . Dir: Nance Score 2334 1961 First Southwestern District in Dallas, 55 Men. Dir: Nance Score 823 1959 Second Southwestern District in San Antonio, 41 Men. Dir: Heiden Score ? Host Int'l Mid Winter & Ninth Annual Parade of Quartets Jan 31 in Liberty Hall
19551956 The entire group went to Inter'natl, the Chorus took fifth with 43 men in Minneapolis with "Doc" directing and scored 2393 points. The DESERTAIRES placed ninth at Inter'natl and we had four swd officers, Lou Laurel was President, Lake Churchill 7 Bill Spooner V-P's and Ken Booth Treasurer. 1955 The DESARTAIRES went to Inter'natl again, but don't know where they placed. The Boeder Chorders hosted the Southwestern District convention in November at Liberty Hall, we took First under "Doc" Hieden's diretion. That year we had three southwest officers Joe Kemendo President, Ken Booth Secretary & Lou Laurel as Treasurer. 1954 The DESERTAIRES took 36 at International while the Chorus placed 13 with 39 men in Washington, D.C. directed by Doc Heiden by a score of 2288. Joe Kemendo was SWD exec-Vp while Lou Laurel was SWD Tres. Lou became a Voice Expression Judge that year. 1953 The DESERTAIRES won the GOLD IN SWD at Wichita Falls. Then they placed 29 at INTERNATIONAL. The Border Chorders took the gold in SWD with 37 men, under the direction of John "Doc" Heiden in Wichita Falls. 1952 The SAGEBLOOMERS were GOLD MEDALISTS in SWD, The DESERTAIRES Were Third at Ft. Worth.
A FEW YEARS LATER, Some of us were born now.
19501949 The Soutwestern District founded Feb. 19, before that the Border Chorders were part of Central states District. 1947 El Paso, Texas Chapter chartered on Augest 18. Charter Members Lloyd Bumpas, J.L.Rasberry, I.W.Gillett, C.L.VanDien, D.D.Roderick,Ralph H. Homan Charles C. Homan, Justin C. White, H.S.Bryan, C.L.Cunningham, W.D.Richards, Roy C. Dahl R.B.Redic, Norman Burke, Dr. J. Leighton Greene, Burton Johnson, Tom C. Patterson, Dr.C.F.Rennick
THE EARLY YEARS, Why some of us wern't even born yet.