Wilderness Road Chorus

Brief History of Wilderness Road Chorus
chartered by international in 1986

1985 Mountain Meadow Prospective Chorus

Women interested in forming Sweet Adelines Choruses worked in both Blacksburg as the Mountain Meadow Chorus and in Dublin as the New River Valley Chorus. Together they formed the Wilderness Road prospective chorus that was chartered by international in December1986 with 22 singers.

1987

1987 Competition

1987: Mary harder, president, Pat Arnn and Amy Wood, co-directors, accepting third place small chorus ribbon

Comp: Winston-Salem, co-directors Pat Arnn and Amy Wood
Songs: Shine on Your Shoes, Laugh Clown, Laugh

1988

1988 Competition

Performance at Dedmond Center, directed by Pat Arnn, director from 1986 to 1992

Comp.: Arlington - Pat Arnn, director
Songs: Lonesomest Girl in Town, The Showboat Came To Town
Sweet Adeline of the Year: Peggy Moore

1989

1989 Competition

Comp.: Virginia Beach, Pat Arnn, director
Songs: No One Cares, Johnny Medley
Sweet Adeline of the Year: Joyce Beliveau

1990

1990 Competition

Show: Everything Old Is New Again, March 10, Blacksburg High School
Comp.: Raleigh - Pat Arnn, director
Songs: Pal of My Cradle Days, Johnny Medley
Sweet Adeline of the Year: Sue Lowman

1991

1991 Promotion of Music!Music!Music!, directed by associate director Deezie Nelson. From left: Jo Burroughs, Jo Anne Yon, Sherry Hirt, Shelby Mahaffey, Fran Williams, Rochelle Ireland, Christy Wachob, and Lavelva Stevens.

Show: Music!Music!Music!, April 13, Norwood Room, Radford
Comp.: Arlington - Chorus did not compete
Sweet Adeline of the Year: Deezie Nelson

Deezie Nelson, director 1991 to 1994

1992

1992 Competition

Comp.: Virginia Beach - Deezie Nelson, director
Songs: Baby Face, Pal of My Cradle Days
Sweet Adeline of the Year: Dot Covey (posthumously)

1993

Show: Magic of Music, June 5, Narrows, sponsored by New River Arts Council
Comp.: Raleigh - Deezie Nelson, director
Songs: I'm All Alone. Please Don't Talk About Me
Sweet Adeline of the Year: Mary Ann H. Johnson

1994

Rehearsal After Competition

Comp.: Roanoke - Peggy Moore, director
Songs: I'm All Alone, Please Don't Talk About Me
Sweet Adeline of the Year: Jo Burroughs

Peggy Moore named director, 1994

1995

Competition Warm-up room

Peggy Moore, director 1994 to 1996

Show: Celebrate the 40s, directed by Peggy Moore

1996

Talk of the Town, Lyric Theatre fund raiser

Show: Radio - Talk of the Town, April 25, fund-raiser for Lyric Theatre
Comp.: Norfolk - Chorus did not compete
Sweet Adeline of the Year: Cathy Jacobs

1997

John Howell named director

Bring Back Those Good Old Days

1997 Competition

John Howell, director 1997 to 1998

Show: Bring Back Those Good Old Days, March 1, Squires Student Center, Virginia Tech
Comp.: Greensboro - John Howell, director
Songs: When I Lost You, Swannee
Sweet Adeline of the Year: Lavelva Stevens

1998

Love's Old Sweet Song

Gathering apples at Doe Creek Farm, Fran Williams, Mary Showalter, Judy Wimmer, Sue Lowman, Janet Wimmer and Jo Burroughs

Show: Love's Old Sweet Song, Feb. 14, Donaldson Brown Center, Virginia Tech
Comp.: Winston-Salem - John Howell, director
Songs: When I Lost You, Swannee

Scores:
Music: 103

Sound: 96

Expression: 85

Showmanship: 85
Total = 372
Sweet Adeline of the Year: Shelby Mahaffey

1999

1999 - Fourth of July celebration, Blacksburg High School Bill Brown Stadium.

Charlotte Smith and Mary Ann H. Johnson

Rochelle and Roy's Wedding

4-way Stop

Terra Nova

Quartets rehearsing for 1999 show Sentimental Journey

Charlotte Smith named director

Show: Sentimental Journey, Sept. 18, Christiansburg High School
Comp.: Roanoke - Charlotte Smith, director
Songs: This Is My Night To Shine, The Light That Shines Forever

Scores:
Music: 95

Sound: 102

Expression: 114

Showmanship: 112
Total = 423
Sweet Adeline of the Year: Marie Showalter

2000

2000 Performance at Giles County High School classes of 1950s reunion

2000 Show Millenium Magic, Madam Ruth

Show: Millenium Magic, Sept 30 Christiansburg High School
Comp.: Winston-Salem - Charlotte Smith, director (won third place small chorus and most improved in sound. Charlotte Smith won top novice director.)
Songs: Tired of Me, Goodbye Medley

Scores
Music: 103

Sound: 123

Expression: 118

Showmanship: 121
Total = 465
Sweet Adeline of the Year: Judy Wimmer

2001

2001 Afterglow of 2001 Barbershop Odyssey awards to Russell Shock and Bo Newcomb

2001 Competition rehearsal at Christiansburg High School

Show: 2001: A Barbershop Odyssey, Sept. 22 - Christiansburg High School
Comp.: Greensboro, NC - Charlotte Smith, director
Songs: Tired of Me, Goodbye Medley

Scores
Music: 122

Sound: 123

Expression: 122

Showmanship: 128

Total = 495

Sweet Adeline of the Year: Barbara Lawson

2002

Performance by the movie sign at New River Valley Mall

Shelby and Tommy's wedding reception

Comp.: Winston-Salem - Charlotte Smith, director (won third place small chorus)
Songs: Changes Made Medley, From the First Hello To the Last Goodbye

Scores:
Music: 118

Sound: 126

Expression: 126

Showmanship: 123
Total = 493
Sweet Adeline of the Year: Janet Wimmer

2003

competition

Pulaski Arts in the Garden

Show: Lovin' the 50s, March 8 at the new Blacksburg Middle School Directed by Sherry Hirt and Lavelva Stevens
Comp.: April 12 - 13, Richmond, directed by Sherry Hirt and Lavelva Stevens
Songs: Changes Made Medley, From the First Hello To the Last Goodbye

Scores:
Music: 86

Sound: 108

Expression: 101

Showmanship: 94
Total = 389
Sweet Adeline of the Year: Laura Jayne

2004

2004 competition

First CD recorded by Trimble Studio

Repainting new rehearsal site at the Old Christiansburg Middle School Choral Room, from left, Melanie Ondich, Mary Ann H. Johnson, Judy Wimmer, Rochelle Ireland, Tim Service and Jo Burroughs

Tim Service - Director from 2004 to 2006

Made First CD
New Rehearsal Site: the former Christiansburg Middle School choral room
Comp.: April 16 - 17, Winston-Salem - directed by Tim Service
Songs: The Great Race, Strangers

Scores:
Music: 113

Sound: 88

Expression: 97

Showmanship: 92
Total = 390
Sweet Adeline of the Year: Rochelle Ireland
Performances at Reynolds Homestead in May and October

2005

Character actors in Hernando's Hideaway, from left: Gary Kinder, Jamey Singleton and Bev Collins

Show: Hernando's Hideaway, March 12 at Christiansburg Middle School. Director: Tim Service, Associate Director: Lavelva Stevens, Producer: Joyce Beliveau Guest: Jamey Singleton, WSLS TV meteorologist
Singing Valentines to celebrate Valentine's Day
Sweet Adeline of the Year: Joyce Beliveau

2006

For the Music Society at Rural Retreat commemorating Stephen Foster

The pre-recording of Fourth of July show WDBJ's Mornin' Show with Steve Pardon

For Ministers and Spouses Retreat at Natural Bridge

Special Guest performers at the Democratic party event for Benny Keister with Gov. Mark Warner

Lavelva Stevens named director, 2006

Comp.: March 31-April 1, Winston-Salem,directed by Lavelva Stevens
Songs: Baby Face, Melancholy Baby

Scores:
Music: 103

Sound: 96

Expression: 90

Showmanship: 98
Total = 387

Performances at Natural Bridge, Rural Retreat, Rockwood Manor with Gov. Mark Warner, Fourth of July on WDBJ's Mornin' Show and also included inits competition for top local singing group
Sweet Adeline of the Year: Darlene Reach

2007

Singing at University Club party

Coaching by Carolina Connection
Mary Ann Johnson's retirement party
At River Bend B & B when Rochelle and Frank arrived after their wedding ceremony
Sweet Adeline of the Year - Judy Tranter
Show: Remember When, Nov. 11, Blacksburg Middle School

2008

Amanda, Lavelva, Dar, Jo singing

During coaching by Jan Owens

Show: Remember When,Redux, Sunday May 18 at Pulaski Elementary School
Offered Barbershop Interludes
Jan Owens coaching, Pulaski Holiday Tree Lighting, At Kipps Elemtentary for Teacher Appreciation Week
Competition at Winston-Salem - Wilderness Road did not compete
Sweet Adeline of the Year - Lavelva Stevens

2009

Lavelva directs during Beverly Dale coaching session.

Singing Valentine at Wheatland Hills resident

Ready to go on stage at competition

Comp.: May 8-10, Greensboro NC, directed by Lavelva Stevens
Songs: I Love To Hear That Old Barbershop Style, You've Got To See Mama Ev'ry Night
Perform for evaluation only.