After security checks at the White House entrance, we were met by our bubbly guide Melanie, who took us into the East Wing to get ready for our first performance that occurred in the East Room where the Presidential press conferences are held. This season, the East Room was taken over by seven large (15 feet high) Christmas trees (sorry, the politically correct term is Holiday trees), leaving just enough room for two risers, and a path for visitors to come through.

We sang for nearly an hour, using our entire Christmas (Holiday) repertoire. Two quartets also sang: Our Favorite Pastime (Tenor, Al Garfield; Lead, Irv Flamer; Bari, Phil Richards; Bass, Nick Hodnett) and the Westchesteraires -- White House edition (Tenor, Joel Marcus; Lead, Bob Seda; Bari, Vick Fiorillo; Bass, Fletcher Barton). Our Director was Pete Turner.

We did a second set in the East Foyer. Then Melanie took us on a tour through the Red Room, the Blue Room, the State Dining Room, the China Room, etc. There must have been a total of 25 Christmas (Holiday) Trees, each 15 feet tall, all festooned with decorations donated by students from grammar schools and culinary institutes.

The visitors touring the White House were all guests invited by Congressmen, Governors, and other dignitaries. Several hundred new guests came into the White House every fifteen minutes. The down side was we saw no sign of Bill and Hillary other than their Holiday card on display. Also, the setting didn't encourage the guest to take in more than a few of our songs. However, one couple did dance to our singing of White Christmas. We were preceded and followed by singing groups from Virginia and Delaware, both Church choirs.

The whole deal was set up through the persistence of Walter Peek who chased down the right people to get the invitation to sing there. We were allowed only 25 singers, but another of our persistent members (Irv Flamer) wangled several invitations for some of the wives to come along. As with many such things, getting invited required a combination of contacts in the right places and lots of perseverance.

Incidentally, we got back to New York after midnight to be greeted by icy streets everywhere. But we all got home safely, although exhausted. We certainly won't soon forget our visit to the White House.

Westchester County, NY Golden Chordsmen in the
White House China Room for a Christmas Concert.
Photographer: Connie Delehanty