‘CELEBRATE OUR HISTORY!’

The Louisiana Choral Foundation (LCF) has been a thriving non-profit organization in Lake Charles for over 30 years. The mission of this group is to encourage enjoyment and appreciation for diverse choral traditions and to train adults and children vocally and in music literacy.  LCF is an important cultural group in Lake Charles and has had many accomplishments, but none of it would be possible without its loyal supporters. Thank you for allowing us to enrich the community musically and culturally and with your continued support we look forward to many more years of dedication to Lake Charles.

In January, 1970 the church choirs of First United Methodist and University United Methodist and their choirmasters, Donald Allured and Lamar Robertson, combined to sing Vivaldi Gloria.  They merged again two years later to present Verdi Requiem.  Both works were directed by Robertson with Allured accompanying at the organ.

On September 28, 1972 the Verdi Requiem was repeated for the celebrated opening of the Lake Charles Civic Center.  This time Allured conducted and Robertson served as general manager.

After collaborating twice more for Mendelssohn Elijah and Brubeck Light in the Wilderness serious thought was given to organizing a community choir.  The founders were Lamar Robertson, Ronald and Anne Brumley, Robert and George Ann Benoit, Dan and Dorothea Harmon, Sylvia Hayes, Jerry Crews, Karen Miller and Dr. Hugh H. Robinson.   The Articles of Incorporation were filed February 23, 1977 and Louisiana Choral Foundation (LCF) was established with Lamar Robertson as Artistic Director.

One month later Masterworks Chorale, the first adult choir formed under the foundation, presented its premier concert at University United Methodist Church.  The work was Haydn The Creation.

            Today, rehearsals are held once a week for two and a half hours.  Each concert requires 9-12 weeks of preparation.  Since its inception over 600 people have sung in Masterworks Chorale, and many of those for many years.  Four who participated in the 1977 premier concert are still singing with the chorale.  They are Lamar Robertson, Abbie Fletcher, Phyllis Morgan and Van Schmutz.

            The current artistic director of Masterworks Chorale is Dr. Darryl Jones and the accompanist is Abbie Fletcher.  Dr. Jones is only the second director and has held the position since 2002.  Lamar Robertson directed 25 years. 

          Choirs from Barbe, Sulphur and St. Louis Catholic High Schools have been guests on LCF programs.  LCF has sponsored choral clinicians such as Susan Brumfield and Jill Trinka for music programs in public schools, and has sponsored internationally known King Singers and Western Wind choral ensembles on McNeese University Banners Series.           Collaborations with Lake Charles Symphony, Lake Charles Little Theatre, Children’s Theater Co. and Dance Theater Southwest blossomed into extravagant productions of Rodgers and Hammerstein The King and I, Oklahoma and Puccini Madame Butterfly.  William Kushner, conductor of the Lake Charles Symphony, invited the chorale to sing often with the orchestra.  Among the works were Mahler Resurrection Symphony, Orff Carmina Burana, Beethoven Ninth Symphony and Verdi Rigoletto concert production.

          Suite Louisiane was an original production based on historical music of Louisiana both folk and classic.  Music for the program was researched by a LCF team working in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Lake Charles and arranged by William Rose.  The production celebrated the Fall 1997 reopening of Central School as a home for arts organizations in Lake Charles.

          Mozart Plays the Palace was another original play by members of LCF highlighting the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and was performed before 1000 elementary students in Calcasieu Parish schools in 2006.

            Throughout the years grants and special support have been awarded for projects of the foundation by Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by Arts and Humanities Council of SWLA, City of Lake Charles, Southwest Louisiana/Lake Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau, North American Land Company LLC, Sweet Lake Land and Oil Company LLC and PPG Industries Inc.

            In the early days three public school music teachers, Nelda Boese, Anna Lou Babin and Marie Richardson, sang in the chorale during the school year and attended music workshops in the summers.  The idea for a children’s musical training choir with expanded performance opportunities was developed by these women as they drove to and from their summer workshops.  After discussion with the artistic director, the children’s choir was formed in 1983.   Les Petites Voix (LPV) became the second choir under the foundation with Nelda Boese as conductor and Marie Richardson accompanist.   The children first sang on the Masterworks Chorale Christmas program that year and now perform regularly on the holiday concerts.

             LPV participated in the collaborations with Lake Charles Symphony in Bizet Carmen, Orff Carmena Burana, and appeared with Amy Rentrop Chaffin singing portions of Rodgers and Hammerstein The Sound of Music.  LPV mounted two productions of Benjamin Britten’s delightful Noye’s Fludde.

On May 12, 2002 the children gave their first solo concert at Rosa Hart Theater.  Since that time they have presented annual concerts at Central School or Historic City Hall.

            Les Petites Voix continues to meet once a week for vocal and choral training by qualified music teachers who often hold Kodaly certificates as specialists in children’s musical education.  The children come from every part of the parish, often recommended by public school music teachers. 

            The present LPV director is Kari McCarty and the accompanist is Annette Larsen, who also holds Kodaly certification.  Past directors include Nelda Boese, Alison Peltz, Ann Eisen, Susan Tevis, Lamar Robertson, Cora McMillen and Michele White. 

            Masterworks Chorale and Les Petite Voix have averaged 4 concerts per year for 30 years.  By far the majority of performers are volunteers and local community members who love to learn and sing!

            The foundation has been ably served by its past presidents Van Schmutz, Madolyn Bowman, Sarah Crouch, Marie Davidson, Karl Boellert, Patti Davidson, Barbara Leming, Marianne Leigh and Janet Allured.

            The foundation is presently managed by a Board of Directors whose members are: Suzanne Kelley, president, Dianne LeFrere, vice president, Anna Lou Babin, secretary, Pauline Rentrop, treasurer; members are Sheila Champagne, Connie David, Paul Hearn, Richard Jones, Libby Tete Looney, Marti Lundy, Sheila MacKay, David Self, Jo Ann Turner, Elsie Wamsley and Lisbeth Williams.

Compiled In Appreciation by Abbie Fletcher 2007