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I treasure my time in the VSA chorus--all 17 years. I met my best friend there and many other dear friends. It has been a joy!

Julie AppelhanzFeatured Season 52 Second Half Program

Charlotte has always had a love of music. She took piano lessons as a child but realized she liked to sing more. While she had a few voice lessons, singing in choirs truly developed her talent—and it helped that she was raised in a church that sang four-part harmony.
 
She says her primary claim-to-fame is that she is the mother of daughter, Bethany Ward (VSA Chorus Conductor from 2008-2010), and son, Jonathan Heath (who has acted in Magic Circle productions). In fact, Charlotte has been a Magic Circle Player in two productions herself.

I enjoy the VSA for the challenge of learning and then sharing the music. I am now retired and enjoy traveling with my high school sweetheart and wife of 47 years, Trish. I also enjoy our five grandkids, 4-wheeling, and turning bowls on my lathe.

Julie AppelhanzFeatured Season 52 Second Half Program

Van has been singing for as long as he can remember. “My dad was a music lover and had me singing in church from day one. We had a family band, and as the youngest of five kids, I started playing trumpet at age 5. In the 4th grade I switched to tuba, which I still play.”

He moved with his family to Paonia when he was just 10 years old, and for 60 years, he’s called Paonia “home.” Van sang in the high school chorus and the Point Loma College Acapella Choir and took voice lessons in both high school and college. He has performed at more than 150 funerals over the years. He owned and operated Tuin Glass for 40 years in the North Fork Valley and coached basketball at Paonia High for nine years.

Van joined the chorus in the 2009­-2010 season when Bethany Ward was the director.

I switched to the mixed choral group because I love the richness of sound of the men’s and women's voices together: it allows for such a great variety of music.

Carol MulvaneyFeatured Season 52 First Half Program

Carol was born and raised in Lakewood, California. Her initial interest in music came from piano and singing lessons at the age of four, which continued until she was six years old. Later, she played piano for a church youth group and toured throughout California. In elementary school, she picked up the clarinet after being inspired by her older brother and father, who was involved with the Ralph Carmichael Orchestra (he is regarded as one of the pioneers of contemporary Christian music). Although she initially hid in the closet at band practice until class was over, she did eventually learn to play, becoming proficient enough to join her brother and father at church.

It’s a great benefit to my life that I have been able to participate in the VSA with folks who are so dedicated to creating a wonderful musical experience for all. Thanks to everyone—conductors, singers, musicians, and audience.

Barb KrebsFeatured Season 52 First Half Program

Barb Krebs is a “charter member” of the VSA Chorus. In 2001 she joined the Grand Mesa Singers, one of various choral groups that were seasonal contributors to the VSA, mainly at Christmas concerts, and in 2002, these choral groups combined and came under the VSA umbrella to create the VSA Chorus.

Although she’s had no formal voice training, Barb has been singing with her family at home, on car trips, and at Girl Scout camp. It was, and has always been, one of her favorite activities. At South High School in Denver, she sang with the Acapella Concert Choir under the direction of Richard Eichenberger. Each year the choir learned one challenging Bach double-choir motet (a piece of sacred choral music) as part of their repertoire. After performing it numerous times, it was recorded at the end of the school year, a process that gave Barb a new outlook on singing. “Having it be quality enough to record elevated its importance to me.”

Bringing Classical Music to Life