Golden Angels perform musical

Impromptu choir has struck a chord with singers, audiences alike

by Jim Boyle

Editor

Guardian Angels Care Center residents, their families and staff continue to enjoy the fruits of a new twist that was introduced this past year at the center’s annual end-of-summer get-together.

An impromptu performance by a few led to the creation of The Golden Angels, a choir now composed of more than a dozen residents who love to sing at a place where people love to be entertained — no matter the age.

The group performed its first musical on Tuesday, May 21, to a standing-room-only crowd.

“Our choir has poured their hearts into every note, and we hope that you’ll enjoy the beautiful melodies,” said Paula Rose, the recreation leader at Guardian Angels Care Center who has been the engine powering the formation of the choir and its growth.

Lisa Stidham, the recreation director, had asked Rose to pull together a small group for the annual Minnesota State Fair spinoff event this past August.

“Thinking this would be a one-time thing, we got together, rehearsed and performed a show,” Rose said. “Little did any of us realize that we would go on to perform a Christmas concert. And now our first musical.”

When other residents found out about this new choir, they wanted to join, too. The group quickly surpassed a dozen members, many of whom use wheelchairs to move about the facility at 400 Evans Ave. in Elk River. The singers named themselves The Golden Angels, and they also performed for Veterans Day in November.

“The singers love performing, and they have been well received,” Stidham said.

Members of the choir include Lois Green, Arthur Kaden, Fern Vesico, Julian Melich, Henry Prather, Jerry Hendrickson, Ramona Ole-Bjore, Bobbi Salzbrun, Barbara Fairgrieve, Sharon Swanson, and Virginia Stavrum.

Choir members now look forward to regular rehearsals. For instance, when Lois Green got back from the hospital, she told the paramedics to bring her straight to rehearsal and not to her room because she didn’t want to be late for a rehearsal.

Rose shared a quote in her opening remarks on Tuesday that she came across that was authored by an unknown person, but summed up the collective efforts of the group The Golden Angels.

“Choir is not just about singing,” she stated. “It’s about unity, harmony and creating something beautiful together. So get ready to be transported by the power of words and music.”

The words for “Can Love Survive,” the musical, were written by Rose, and she read them with the same passion that she has put into growing and developing the choir.

The musical starred residents Betty Johnson as Addie McCoy and Bob Johnson as Nathan Detroit in a story of “unbridled passion” with music by The Golden Angels with accompaniment from Gina Burton on the piano. The show provided lots of laughs, a bit of intrigue, surprise, sadness and, of course, love.

Upon conclusion of the show, Rose introduced all of the choir members as well as the leads. Betty Johnson then took the microphone to recognize Rose while she was handed a bouquet of flowers for all of her efforts and writing the script.