Featured February, 2022

Rod and Judy met in Durango, CO, and were married in 1969. They both sang in Fort Lewis College choirs, as well as doing general music studies there. After graduation they moved to Kansas City, MO, for Rod’s career with the Social Security Administration. During that time, Judy was a homemaker and community volunteer. They have both always enjoyed singing.

Pining for the Colorado mountains again, they retired to Montrose in 2003.

They attended their first VSA Chorus concert in December, 2003, at the Montrose United Methodist Church and were thrilled with the performance directed by Kelly Neill, the first VSA Chorus conductor (see page 13 for additional chorus history). Rod and Judy had been active church choir members in Kansas City. They discovered that Kelly was also from the Kansas City area and had been a singer in the Kansas City Chorale. In fact, Rod and Judy had frequented Chorale concerts when they lived in Kansas City—small world!

Rod began singing with the VSA Chorus for the March, 2004, spring concert and has sung in every concert since then through March, 2019, the last VSA Chorus (only) concert before today’s performance. In addition to Kelly, Rod has performed under the direction of all VSA Chorus conductors (see page 8 for a full listing).

In addition to singing, Rod helped with the design and set-up of the chorus risers. He is still the Montrose “point man” for moving the VSA trailer and risers for all VSA concerts. Rod’s faithful dedication to the VSA is certain testimony to his love of music. “Singing is just plain fun!”

Judy sang regularly with the chorus from December, 2010, through March, 2019. She had planned to retire but was persuaded back for the Season 50 Christmas concert. Today, she’ll take part as an audience member.

Beyond the chorus stage, Rod and Judy love to travel. An interesting “flashback” about Judy: she spent time overseas in her teens and accomplished a trip around the world—some by cruise ship—before she reached the age of 18!

They are also railroad fans. Rod is “motorman” (driver) for Motor #1 replica at the Ridgway Railroad Museum. Judy loves to plan rail trips. This past summer they travelled to Alaska to ride all the beautiful routes of the Alaska Railroad.