By Marv Balousek
Singing classics like “Over the Rainbow” and “As Time Goes By” to rock oldies like “Johnny Angel” and “It’s My Party,” a new Villages choral group plans its first concert in late April.
The 135-voice group, started by musician and director Bill Davis, held its first rehearsal Saturday afternoon at Bridgeport Recreation Center.
Davis said the response was so strong to a call he put out to the community about the new group that there now is a waiting list of people who want to participate.
“The response to my invitation has been overwhelming,” he said. “I guess I hit a chord.”
Mollie McCarthy of the Village of Hemingway said she knows Davis and joined because he formed the group.
“There’s nothing like this in The Villages,” she said. “You’ve got to be in on the ground floor.”
McCarthy said she never sang until moving to The Villages about five years ago, but since then has appeared in “Fiddler on the Roof” and “A Chorus Line.”
“I liked the choice of music,” said Marie McCoy of the Village of Chatham, who said she has sung barbershop type music. “It’s nice to sing in a choral group.”
At the rehearsal, the group made a first run-through of the songs Davis plans to perform. Since many members can sing while reading music, even the first effort had a professional quality.
Still, the group faced some challenges such as the male falsetto part on “Walk Like a Man” or Italian lyrics on “My Prayer.” Davis said auditions will determine who sings solos.
Davis, who plays in a band called 3 for the Road, has a longtime interest in musical theater and directed the Villages Musical Company production of “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” last fall. He also had roles in recent Villages productions of “White Christmas” and “Carousel.” He spent 32 years in the grocery business before coming to The Villages over a year ago.
