Golden Memories Page 69

Golden Memories SWD Chapters

Central Cities, Okla.
Music Central
by Mark Holdeman

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It all started in the summer of 1994, when a number of inactive Oklahoma City area barbershoppers began discussing the possibility of forming another chapter in the OK City area. The idea came to fruition in November when Mark Holdeman, Robert Browning, Van VanBlake, Bob Allen, Marion Phillips, John Branscum, Ron DeCost and Richard Malone met in a pub on the northwest side of Oklahoma City and began mapping a game plan.
The idea was based on the fact that there were a number of barbershoppers in the Oklahoma City area who had dropped out for various reasons. We felt that these men should be encouraged to renew their participation in barbershopping, and that with these men as the core, a new and exciting chapter in barbershopping history could be written. It was a given that the Oklahoma City metro area had more than enough room for another chapter.
So we spent the first month or so deciding what type of chapter we wanted. What we decided was to build a championship-caliber chorus that also emphasized each of the lifeblood aspects of barbershopping. We wanted a chapter that not only produced a gold-medal chorus, but also a plethora of fine quartets. We wanted to put forth high-quality music and still provide the camaraderie that all barbershoppers enjoy.
One of the first steps in this process was to hire a top-notch director. Out of the list of names provided, one name stood out, that of longtime OK Chorale associate director, Brian Hogan. When we approached him with the idea, he was excited at the prospect of being a part of building a model chapter from the ground up.

Charter Members

Bob Allen
John Branscum
Robert Browning
Ron DeCost
Robert Gray
Brian Hogan
Mark Holdeman
Richard Malone
Dewight Mitchell
Marion Phillips
Richard Prince
Don Rogers
Steve Sullivan
Van VanBlake
Jim Ward
Larry Whaley

With Brian's hiring, interest really began to pick up. At the first meeting on January 3, 1995, 36 men showed up. The next week, 38 men were in attendance. Since then, we have maintained a list of around 45 regulars, with an average of 30-35 each week.
We even have had our first coaching session, a vocal production seminar in February with Russ Adkisson from Huntsville, Alabama, which we opened up to all of the area church choir directors. We received our license in February, and our charter at the 1995 spring convention in Dallas.
We held our charter show on June 17, 1995 at the Indian Shrine Temple featuring Sooner Sensations, Vocal Orchestration Corporation, Southwest Pride Chorus and the district champion Dallas Knights.

Table of
Contents

Sections:
How It All Began Chapters Chapter Histories International Quartet Champions Choruses Administration
Contests and Conventions Registered Quartets Publications Recognitions In Conclusion