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Written by Jessica Sinn Thursday, 03 April 2008

Dr. Linda Bolding began pondering the idea of forming a civic chorus in 1985. After receiving an outpouring of positive feedback from the Round Rock community, she knew she had to set her plans in motion. So later that year, she asked 18 people to join the choir’s board of directors and everyone accepted. The choir’s first audition proved she made the right decision.

Swanee Variety Show “I thought that if we could have 40 singers, that would have been a great start,” said Bolding, Round Rock Community Choir founder and director. “To my surprise, more than 180 people came to audition. It was just amazing.”

More than two decades later, the choir continues to flourish. The 100-member group of singers is set to perform their annual Swanee variety show in April.

The variety show features an array of musical sequences, including tap dancing numbers, small group ensembles, solos, duets and comedic skits. Bolding said the high-energy show appeals to a wide range of musical interests.

“Swanee is very unique for a choir because it’s a big choreographed costume show,” Bolding said. “It’s full of energy, and you can tell by their energy that they love doing it.”

Bolding said the first line of the song, “Swanee, How I Love Ya, How I Love Ya,” inspired her to name the show Swanee. Paired with the opening segment, “Another opening, Another Show,” she said the upbeat songs induce a surge of expectancy.

“I wanted people to equate that line with a show that they would love and come back again and again to see,” Bolding said. “It’s also a song that has a lot of energy, just like our show.”

Photo from Swanee Variety Show From high school students to 80-year-old grandmothers, the choir is a melting pot of Central Texas community members who all share at least one common interest: a passion for music.

“Our choir is the essence of community,” Bolding said. “People of all walks of life come together and put everything they have into the mix, and what comes out is just great music.”

To keep the show fresh and exciting, Bolding said the choir premieres new original songs and themes each year.

“We come up with 40 to 50 songs for one show,” Bolding said. “So after all these years, we’ve sung so many songs – no wonder my file cabinets are running over.”

Bolding said the choir is composed of a diverse cast of talented singers. She said membership does require vocal talent, but she encourages any community member who enjoys singing to attend an audition.

“No one would believe these auditions,” she said. “They’re at my house, in my piano room. Everyone just crams in and auditions for everyone else. If someone starts singing, everyone starts snapping and clapping. It’s really fun.”