WCHS Chamber Singers Reunion!

Buy the Reunion DVD!

Loren_Roberts — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 22:02:16 +0000

On Saturday, August 7, 2010, West Covina High School Chamber Singers alumni from across the country gathered to honor Tom Kessler, the man who helped shape over a decade of performances and dreams. Now you can see everything that happened, as well as re-live some of the memories from long-forgotten performances…

What you get on this DVD:

video from the August 7, 2010 event
hundreds of photos from the August 7, 2010 event
archive footage of several competition pieces from various years!

Only $15. Click the “buy now” button below, and you’re good to go!

(Sorry; we are no longer selling the DVD. Thanks for checking!)

Clarification on Class Years

Loren_Roberts — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:30:46 +0000

This is mainly a reunion for those who were in Chamber Singers during the years that Tom Kessler was directing.

Some people have not found the class roster pulldown menu at the top of the page. So here are all of the rosters that we have to date:

Quick updates on preparations

Loren_Roberts — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 07:37:37 +0000

Well, the reunion committee has had a few meetings, and the wheels have been set in motion! Here’s what we know so far:

August 7, 2010
Paradise Pier Hotel at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim
Adults only!
Tom Kessler will attend!
We’re sending out formal invitations by mail shortly, so we need your address! (No addresses will be made publicly available — we will be extremely discreet with your information.)
We’ll be asking for photos and/or videos if you have them, so that we can make a reel for the evening, as well as a possible keepsake DVD to take home (or mail to you after the event).

Can’t wait to see you all there!

Message from Tom Kessler

Loren_Roberts — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 07:36:40 +0000

Ann Margaret (O’Donnell) Whelan got in touch with Tom in the Fall of ’09. Here’s what Mr. Kessler wrote back:

Hi A.M. —

You have a great looking family! I’m very happy you have “terrific” memories of your Chamber Singer experience. I was so lucky to have had great students to work with. To bad we didn’t have todays video technology back then. Of course I remember the famous C. S. alto, Colleen. Hi Colleen! You both look the… same, just a little older. Speaking of ‘older”, I’m 74 ( this month) and in relatively in good health. I power walk 3 to 4 miles 6 days a week. I still adjudicate show choir competitions and will be doing the last one of the season this month. Dona and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary two years ago. We renewed our vows on a cruise with our family. Dona is my “rock”. We sold our tax, insurance and investment business in Fontana in 2000. Retired from my real estate business in January of this year but still have an active Brokers license.The past four years I managed and maintained our three rental properties which we have now so…

We like cruising, 17 times now since 1996. Last year we cruised to Northern Europe, Russia and the Mediterranean. Now we have embarked on a new adventure. We can no longer take the mountain weather. I fell twice on the ice shoveling snow this year and that did it. So, we are making preparations to sell our house in May … It would be wonderful to have a reunion of all the C. S. from 1976 on. Good luck to Yvonne and Loren (hi Yvonne and Loren!). It’s been tried many times before without success but with the help of facebook etc., it could happen. I WOULD’N'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD!

LOVE YOU ALL!

Wow, what a time we had.

Loren_Roberts — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 07:34:07 +0000

Over the course of 10 years of tireless instruction, Tom Kessler catalyzed memories for each of us that have shaped who we are today.

The friends that we made, the work ethic, the music, the competitions, the winning (and sometimes — rarely — losing!), the applause, the tears, the sore feet, the tours, the community events, costume fittings…can you think of a more powerful high school memory than the ones from Chamber Singers?

Now, it’s time to catch back up with each other and make some new memories! And to say thanks to Mr. Kessler, who helmed this wonderful show choir for us.

Wow, what a time we had. Come and join us at the Paradise Pier Hotel in Anaheim, CA, for a night of remembering, laughing, and honoring Tom Kessler.

See you there!