By Lee Hurley
For over 34 years, the Hoover Songbirds have brought professional choral performances to audiences across greater Birmingham. The seniors to seniors singers kicked off their spring season at the Bungalows of Riverchase, and went on to give 16 performances at various locales like the Shepherd of the Valley Church, The Oaks—Independent Living, Brookdale Senior Living, Somerby, Galleria Woods, and Kirkwood by the River, to name a few.
“We’re lucky to have 32 choir members this year; 21 women and 11 men,” says Director Fred Ernst. The choir features performers aged 55 to 90. Though the group sings in unison, Ernst welcomes harmonies. “The only rules are: sing on pitch and in key.” Shows include light choreography and costume changes to match musical themes along with very talented musicians backing up the choir.
Now in his 13th year as director, Ernst began singing while young, later performing with the Cleveland Orchestra’s Pops chorus. A semi-retired anesthesiologist who runs the pain clinic at Cooper Green two days a week, Ernst began taking formal vocal lessons at 56, studying voice for a decade. “I still seek approval from my toughest critics—my wife and daughter,” he jokes.Ernst, a very animated conductor, learned his movements from the famous conductor Louis Lane. “We are rarely dull,” he smiles.
Ernst revamped the choir’s repertoire to include an hour of Broadway tunes and selections from the Great American Songbook. Members bring standout experience, like opera-trained mezzo Ginger Goodall; Theresa Thienpont, former music director for OLV church and school; and Lynne Leo, former choir director at Pelham High School. Four instrumentalists also perform with the group: Linda Campbell on the piano; Karl Turner and David Campbell on drums; Bud Brown on guitar and Fred Gibson with percussion.
“We enjoy the fellowship,” says Ernst. “Being a musical family, and performing for senior citizens is a privilege. Some of our members don’t have family in this area, and so we are basically their support network. And seeing the faces of those we sing to brings us great joy. Especially memory care seniors. Music helps them remember. It’s the universal language.”
The fall season will feature eight performances during October and November. For
more information, email Fred Ernst at
[email protected].
