Lock City Glee Club is now
The Lock City Sound
About us
The Lock City Glee Club was formed as a community chorus in 1982, having been a corporate sponsored men’s chorus since 1965. The Glee Club performs around the area of Lockport, NY, named for it’s lifting locks on the Erie Canal - hence the nickname “Lock City”. Much in the manner of those locks lifting boat and cargo to travel further, the Glee Club tries to lift the spirit and enthusiasm of their audiences. Members enjoy the harmonies of fellowship and fun along with music. The chorus makes a variety of performances each year, the largest of which is its annual Spring Sing show. Membership presently settled around twenty-or-so active men and we continue to seek more members.
History
The Harrison Men’s Glee Club was formed in 1965 at the Harrison Radiator Division of General Motors in Lockport, NY. The chorus was utilized by the corporation for business purposes (mostly publicity) but performed at many civic and organizational functions, with chief support within Harrison from Bernie Raysor (assistant to Al Szwicker). One of the greatest memories of the old members was a trip to Lake Placid, NY, where Bernie was responsible for bringing the chorus in for entertainment for the GM function. The Glee Club was well received with an impressive performance.
The original Music Director was Dick Geise, a Newfane school music teacher. He remained with the chorus through it’s evolution to a community-sponsored chorus, the Lock City Glee Club, and beyond, retiring from Music Director and returning later to sing and become an Associate Music Director.
Just as the corporate support came from Bernie Raysor, so the spirit of the chorus, in music and social relations, was guided by Dick Geise. The guidance and development of many others was also integral to the group's success, perhaps too many to list – but these two men were keys to starting the chorus well.
From 1965 through the 70’s, the Glee Club was much the same and continued success gained a devoted audience. As we began the 80’s, a new period of our history would develop to change the face of the chorus. the Lock City Glee Club, Inc was the name taken at the transition to a community-sponsored organization. This occurred due to changes in a corporate decision; that was the halting of sponsoring non-business related activities.
Then President Claire Watkins (1981) had to assist the separation from sponsorship to a much required self-supporting unit that could maintain staff and find if any interest would appeal to that audience we already had and continue to grow. The Glee Club had a public following and certainly enjoyed the fellowship enough to try to keep going. He (Claire) remembers having discussions with Dick Geise when Dick stated he had done shows before so why not try that for fund-raising! We still gain our annual support with the Spring Sing started back long ago.
Another impetus was the shortly advanced an invitation to join the Associated Male Choruses of America (the New York-Penn District) in 1981. Jack Ernisse, from a Rochester chorus and then officer in the district, had heard about us and came to visit a rehearsal one evening to recruit the chorus. We were impressed enough to send three men to the next District Big Sing, which is an annual gathering of the member choruses held on a Saturday – rehearsals during the day and concert performance given in the evening. The event was held that year at the Wellsboro, PA, location, with the Wellsboro Men’s Chorus hosting. The event was such a good thing, including the music, fellowship, opportunity to serve the community and the good time at the Afterglow to finish the day (actually next morning). The report back to Lock City Glee Club was only positive and enthusiastic, and we joined that year.
Having such opportunity to interface with other Male Choruses was most fulfilling and rewarding to our success in the following years. We learned new music, found fellowship and friends to share the experiences with, and we became very competent performers. There was no official competition in the NY-Penn District, but we were always aware of those that came to claim audience appreciation – and Lock City was no slouch in that arena. We also learned to be very good hosts, having always been prepared to take our rotation scheduled for holding the District Big Sing in Lockport. I would dare say we were recognized as the better host and every chorus invited tried hard to accept our request when they got it.
Around the year 2000 and on, the AMCA had some internal problems and these eventually lead to noticeable membership disappointment. Along with these, the NY-Penn District followed its own path and several choruses determined to leave (around 2006-7), regardless of changes in the AMCA By-Laws. The district went inactive and Lock City had to settle into a different reality again, a sort of ‘solo stage’. Pun intended!
We have had growing pains and some might say old age pains. We strive to continue to bring the best of male chorus entertainment and to educate others of our special forte within our community and around the Niagara area. Now in our 59th year as an organization in history, we seem to be still finding our way into the history of this area. Our recent status with new Music Director Drew Burke and accompanist Debbie Hutter shows promise with enthusiastic progress, and the Officers and Board of Directors continue to pursue plans to reach younger men, and even introduce the ideas in area high schools. Presently, we continue to present two annual events; we hold a free Christmas Concert, and we perform our fund-raising concert, the Spring Sing. Requests for performances can be made at any time and will be discussed for each opportunity presented.
And as the song goes, “Brothers Sing On!”…
Compiled by Lock City Glee Club President Ric Addenbrooke (2014)