By Emily Williams-Robertshaw
For three decades, members of the Hoover Songbirds have delivered a professional choral experience to mostly seniors in the greater Birmingham area.
After a pandemic break from performing, the members of the Songbirds regrouped for a few concerts in May and early June, and October marks their return to a full season of performances and their expansion to new audiences.
“It’s an extremely talented group,” said Songbirds Director Fred Ernst. “We are blessed to have 37 members. We’ve taken on nine new members for this season.” Some of the newbies will serve as alternates because of the limited space in many venues.
Members of the choir range from 55 to 90 years of age and have varied backgrounds in music.
“As far as I know, we are the premiere senior show choir in Birmingham that does what we do,” Ernst said. “Prior to COVID-19, we were giving 29 Wednesday concerts each season.”
Performances are always at 2 p.m. on Wednesdays. The 2021-22 season will begin with a series of concerts Oct. 6 to Nov. 17. After a holiday break, the group resumes performances in February through May.
“We sing everything in unison; however, because of the number of people in Songbirds who have an extensive music background, I say give me parts, give me harmony … the more the better,” Ernst said. “But there are just two requirements: you must sing on pitch and in the right key.”
There is a dash of choreography in their performances and many costume changes. Members will swap out hats, scarves and other garments to suit the theme of whichever song they are singing.
This is Ernst’s fifth year directing the Songbirds.
He has been singing for much of his life, beginning in junior high and high school, and has a background in piano.
“Right out of high school, I spent 12 summers singing with the Cleveland Orchestra as part of their Pops chorus in the summer season, which, of course, was professional,” he said.
After many years focused on his career as an anesthesiologist, he rediscovered his love of singing when he partly retired at the age of 56.
“I ended up taking 10 years of voice and vocal coaching to perfect my technique, and I’m sure that’s why at (almost) 81, anyone allows me to sing out in public,” he laughed. “My harshest critics still say I’m OK, and I mean my wife and my daughter.”
Much of his technique in conducting the Songbirds comes from his experiences working under the conductor during his orchestral chorus days.
“I’m drawing on a lot of those 12 years, not only in conducting, but in putting programs together,” he said.
When he took over as leader of the group, he made a conscious effort to create a shift from what he called “old-times” tunes to a comprehensive show choir performance with full-bodied repertoire. Concerts are roughly 60 to 70 minutes long and feature Broadway hits and pieces from the Great American Song Book.
When compiling the season’s performances, Ernst is inspired by his fellow members – a cast of characters some of whom are seasoned performers.
“Three of the four men in the group’s quartet are members of the Voices of the South,” Ernst said, also known as the Central Alabama chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. “They’ll do a barber shop number.”
Member Ginger Goodall is an opera-trained mezzo soprano who has performed throughout the Southeast.
“(She) has sung all over the state with orchestras, mostly oratorios and some stage work,” Ernst said, including two productions of “South Pacific” as Bloody Mary. “I’d love to do a combination of the song ‘Bloody Mary’ and then have her go into ‘Bali Ha’i.’”
His goal for the season is to recruit men and women who have a background in gospel music.
“It adds another dimension to the show,” he said. “And there is nothing better than a good gospel song and singer.”
Accompanying the group is Ray Reich, a world-renowned jazz pianist and Birmingham native.
“How fortunate can we be to have somebody like that who has been music director for some of the biggest names in the music world as well as giving his command performance for Queen Elizabeth II in his younger years over in London,” Ernst said.
“There are just a lot of opportunities with this group.”
Before this year, Ernst said, the group focused on performing in retirement communities and assisted living, as well as a few concerts for the mentally challenged.
This year, they are stepping out.
“The last Wednesday of October, we will branch out and will be singing at Temple Beth-El, which we are really excited about doing,” Ernst said. “Hopefully that will open some doors for other expanded outreach opportunities.”
When practice resumed earlier this month, he said, members of the group were chomping at the bit to return. Not only do they love singing, they love getting together for practices, which always end with some small bites of food and fellowship.
“One of my goals was to make this a musical family where we are all looking out for each other,” Ernst said.
With many members in their 80s and two in their 90s, he said, the group is a great support system for those members who may not have that same support from family.
Ernst sees it create a sense of closeness, “and you sing better. It comes across the footlights to the audience. People can feel when you are having fun and when it’s genuine.”
In turn, the audience reacts and feeds that back to the performers.
“That’s the payback,” he said, “watching the faces of the people we sing to, especially those in assisted living or the mentally challenged. It’s the interactions we have with all of these people after a concert and the joy that you know you have brought them.”
For more information, call the Hoover Senior Center at (205) 739-6700.
