Milestones to meet as Good Shepherd choir performs

FOSTORIA — A pair of milestones will come together in Fostoria on Wednesday, as Good Shepherd Home's Hooked on Singing Choir performs a 2 p.m., concert in the facility's lower level.The public may attend at no charge as the choir, formed in 2023 to include residents of the nursing home, performs its 10th public concert, in recognition of the United States' 250th birthday, scheduled for July 4, 2026."There doesn't seem to be very much publicity about this coming celebration," said Karis Matz, a retired Fostoria teacher and the choir's director. "I think maybe there should be more attention given to it, but that's my opinion."The concert is titled "Celebrate America: Honoring 250 Years of the Songs America Sings." And the fact that the choir has reached its 10th performance is a testament to those who have been with the group since its start and those who have joined along the way, Matz said."It's wonderful," Matz said of the choir moving toward its 10th concert. "I'm happy to just be a part of everything that's happened with the choir. They're just the best people."Part of what's happened is the choir has grown to have about 40 members. It numbered about 30 when it performed its first concert."I think it's just a genuine interest in the choir," Matz said. "... I'm thrilled to have about 40."The choir, however, recently lost one of its original members in Marilyn Boucher, who died after having sung solos in each of the group's previous nine concerts.Noting that she grew up with Boucher, Matz said the upcoming performance is being dedicated to Boucher and other choir members who have died, as well as in memory of the Rev. Amanda Reidling, who was a chaplain at Good Shepherd Home until her recent death in a traffic crash.Matz said the concert will include a variety of selections that have been pared down to 21 three-song medleys."I wanted to review the history of our country through the songs that we've sung — going right back to colonial times, beginning with the song 'In Good Old Colony Times,' coming right up through all of history and the songs that were popular," she said.Matz said the concert will feature solos by Rachel Holman and Darlene Jennings, with Janet Fadley projecting songs through sign language. The Rev. Mark Self, pastor of Trinity United Brethren Church in Fostoria, will serve as master of ceremonies.The audience will be asked to join in singing six songs, and a violinist from the Tiffin area will accompany the choir in six tunes."It was (the choir members') idea that they wanted a violin player with this concert," Matz said. "They said, 'Some of our songs might sound really pretty with them played on the violin.' A member of the choir, Cherie Schindorff, did all of the work to find somebody. I didn't. She made the calls to different churches and a couple of universities and ran down this lady by the name of Sara Rose, who came to practice last Wednesday. She's wonderful. And the six songs that she's playing with us are just so enriched by her sound. It's wonderful."As with Boucher, Matz shares history with Schindorff."She was in my first fifth-grade classroom, in 1962," Matz said. "Some things are too beautiful to understand, almost." Along with Schindorff, Holman and Jennings, the choir includes Pat Beeson, Charlene Collett, Janet Fadley, Lila Hille, Shirley Magers, Dan Seibert, Jim Shaver, Roberta Shaver, Lois Dearsman, Darlene Fruth, Diane Jaeck, Jane Miller, Georgene Miccichi, Dan Nye, Emma Wickard, Brenda Bullock, Linda Fadley, Ruth Feisel, Anna Grover, Bev Keppler, Karen Kessler, Lois Kessler, June Painter, Linda Schurger, Thomasine Brandeberry, Alyce Clifton, Barb Coppus, Mary Ellen Hoover, Tom Kiesel, Lucretia Kirian, Doris Welly, Judy Corner, Rose Brinker and Mary Smith.