Al Opland Singers

The Al Opland Singers is a choral group in the United States, based in Pipestone, Minnesota, consisting of 35-55 members from the surrounding region. It is a union of what was formerly the Pipestone Male Chorus and the Pipestone Women’s Chorus.
Al Opland
Allen Opland (9/17/18-4/27/84) was a vocal and instrumental music teacher at Pipestone High School from 1945 until 1978, when he retired. In 1947, he helped organize the Pipestone Male Chorus. At the end of 1977, some of the men from the group contacted a few local women who were notable musicians, encouraging them to start a women’s group that would perform in forthcoming shows which the men had been performing by themselves up until this time. Opland had a sense of humor which nicely complemented his demand for perfection. He is fondly remembered by former and current members for very serious directing methods, such as, “If you have to cough or clear your throat during a performance…die first.” According to the Constitution of the Pipestone Women’s Chorus, the new women’s group was declared an official entity on January 23, 1978, and the first show that included both groups was performed in April 1978.
History
After the Pipestone Women’s Chorus officially became a group, rules were put into place. According to their Constitution, each member had to pay yearly dues, which cost each person $20, and this money went toward the purchase of new music. Each member had to buy his or her own outfit to wear for the performances, serving as a uniform. Members of both choruses have always had to go through an audition to join the group.
Performances
The shows that the Opland Singers put on include solos, mixed ensembles, duets and barbershop along with dancing, costumes and dialogue. The group used to travel around the surrounding area to perform the shows. The home performance venue was originally the Pipestone High School auditorium, but the group also travelled to put on shows at the Lake Benton Opera House, the Ruthton School gym, as well as venues in Edgerton, Jasper, and Luverne, Minnesota. The Al Opland Singers no longer travel, but perform six shows each season (Christmas and Spring) at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center, which was opened for business in 1993.
The Opland Singers’ performances cover many genres of music, including excerpts from Broadway musicals, popular songs, sacred and secular Christmas music, patriotic songs, as well as spirituals. However, the shows are not limited to music. Musicals, plays and smaller sections of each have been performed over the years, including well known titles, such as The Music Man.
Directors
The Al Opland Singers has had a variety of directors, and has also begun utilizing assistant directors. The directors over the years have been:
Allen Opland: 1978-1983
Bob Jones: Spring 1984
Don Crane: Christmas 1984-Spring 1985
Bob Jones: Christmas 1985-Spring 1991
Jim Smith: Christmas 1991-Spring 2006
Jessica Smith: Christmas 2006-
Assistant directors
Linda Erickson: Spring 2005-Spring 2006
Sandy Roemmich: Christmas 2007-

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