Many Voices Choir Beginnings 

The Many Voices Choir actually began as a Women’s Barbershop group, called the Country Chords in 1985.  They were very successful, sometimes having as many as three sing-outs in a week.   Barbershop is a very different style of singing and there are very few people trained in this style.  Their biggest problem was trying to find directors. One of the members, Carol Johnson-Miller, directed most of the time. 

Their biggest performance each year was at the opening of the Winter Sports Festival.  The Northwest Iowa Concert Band, the Northwest Iowa Jazz Band, and the Country Chords put on a show at the Roosevelt Auditorium and at the After-Glow held at the Elks.

In 1988, Ken Van Der Sloot, vocal music instructor at Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, volunteered to help prepare for the Winter Sports Festival concert.  He had been the director for the only Women’s Barbershop Chorus in this area, and the group was very happy to have his help.  When the Sports Festival was over, he suggested that they ask men to join them, and they would give a mixed voice choir concert.   

To help organize this new choir, Bill Trees served as the first president.  There was a lot of interest in forming a singing group, as there was already an instrumental group, Northwest Iowa Concert Band, in the community.  The result was a 40 to 50-voice choir from Estherville and the surrounding communities.   The first “Many Voices Choir” concert was given on April 14, 1989.  They performed a variety of music from popular Broadway musicals to spirituals and others.  Ken Van Der Sloot continued to lead the choir, and Randy Yackle, an area musician, accompanied the group, both serving in their respective capacities until 1990. 

Through the Years

In 1991, Tim Schumacher took over the directorial duties of the Choir.  Through its growing years, the Choir continued to give several concerts a year.  It frequently performed at the Winter Sports Festival in Estherville in February, along with other adult community groups, such as Northwest Iowa Jazz Band, Northwest Iowa Concert Band (established in 1984), and Just Friends, the vocal jazz group.  In addition, it held its own concerts during the Christmas season and again in the spring. 

The group also performs at several other events, such as Thanksgiving Services, Flag Fest, Ragbrai, Bully Bullhead Weekend, Relay for Life, CAASA, funerals, and many fund-raisers and other events.   They have also performed along with symphonies, bands, bell choirs, youth choirs and other small groups. 

Several special honors include singing at the Iowa Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony in 1995 in Des Moines, and accompanying famed Iowa opera singer Simon Estes in concert in 1998.

There have been several accompanist through the years.  Mary Miller served through the 1991 and 1992 seasons.  Mark Frahm played from 1992 through 1995 seasons.  Jennifer Johnson served during 1996.  Tracy Anderson took over from 1996 through 1998.  Mark Frahm was back for 1998 through 2000.  Glenn Henriksen has performed from 2000 to the present. 

 The Choir Today

Today the group is comprised of singers from 18-20 communities in Iowa and Minnesota and numbers 80-100 people.  About 20 of those have been with the group since its inception.   The members continue to be volunteers who have a love of singing.

Through the years, audiences have exclaimed how the Many Voices Choir has grown substantially not just in numbers, but in artistic quality since its inception.  The concerts have been huge successes and attract a full house each concert.  As the popularity of the Many Voices Choir has grown, so have the invitations to present concerts in many of the neighboring communities. Therefore, the dates and places of the concerts vary from year to year.

 Winter concerts are usually held around the first weekend in December and focus on Advent and Christmas, while the spring concerts are held in the middle of April and are a mix of classical, Broadway pieces, patriotic tunes, and other contemporary favorites.   

 A tradition begun with the first concert and carried through the present is providing free concerts.  A freewill offering is taken to help defray the costs of the organization.

Tim Schumacher took over directing duties in 1991 and has continued in the same position to the present. His skills and leadership in interpreting and directing music has led to a quality organization that has gained respect from not only the members of the Choir, but also from the surrounding communities as well. 

Glenn Henriksen, an accomplished piano and organ performer, has been the accompanist for the group since 2000.  His natural talent on the keyboard has enhanced the sound and energy of the Choir.  His special music before and after concerts display his talents to the audience.