Distinctive decor, architectural detail, spring blooms, tunes and tempting tastings are in store as the Columbus Girlchoir presents its annual home tour Saturday, April 14 from 10 a.m. until noon. Two homes in the Old Waverly Golf Club residential community in West Point are featured. Tom and Jean Elmore at 49 Snowdoun and Bob and Linda Drake at 93 Rosedale will open their doors to visitors.
The fundraiser supports the choral arts program that provides girls ages 9 to 18 with vocal training, music fundamentals and opportunities to sing on regional and national stages. Twenty-six members from the 60-voice senior and junior choirs are preparing now to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City May 25.
“It’s such a wonderful opportunity for the girls. The last time we took a group, their eyes were big as saucers,” said Cherry Dunn, Girlchoir director. For some of the singers, it was their first time to board a plane. The experience broadens both musical and personal horizons.
The choir presents community concerts; their next in Columbus is May 5. It also performs at area churches, schools, civic groups and nursing homes. The home tour is the nonprofit organization’s primary fundraiser and helps continue the mission.
“It’s a small contribution,” said Bob Drake about opening the family home.
“We like to support the choir,” added Linda Drake. “We’ve known several girls who were in it.”
The Drakes gracious plantation-style home with its wrap-around porch is surrounded by lush plantings, with banks of azaleas at the rear of the house, with a deck overlooking a lake.
Inside, comfortable living areas invite relaxed conversation, with ample lake views. Artwork displayed includes several of Bob’s original paintings. Bedrooms and additional living areas are upstairs.
“It’s just easy to live in,” said Linda. “I love sitting on the porch, love having a separate TV room and living room.”
A short drive away
The columned Southern Colonial facade of the Elmores’ home welcomes guests to a flowing interior floor plan that allows guests to easily move from the stylish living room with its grand piano and oriental accents to a more casual keeping room and expansive kitchen area.
Tall windows and glass doors across the back of the home allow every 14-foot-ceilinged room to take advantage of lake views. The Elmores also have an extensive collection of original art.
Tour guests will enjoy highlights including an impressive walk-in closet designed by Jean and the exercise room with a lap pool that begins indoors and extends outdoors. An elevator is available to the upstairs.
Members of the Senior Girlchoir will perform at the Elmore home during the tour. Junior Girlchoir members will sing at the Drake home.
“I love music and am just glad for our home to be of service to them,” said Jean Elmore.
Each location will feature floral designs and catered tastings. Florists include Flowers by Shirley, Ivy Cottage and The Flower Girl. Tastings will be by Marty Wages, Angie Atkins, Sunny Whitaker, Three Sisters Pie Co. and Slice of Heaven’s Sweet Spot.
Girlchoir board member Tara Hurt has two daughters in the choir. She appreciates what the home tour means to its continuation. Community support helps provide not only extraordinary experiences such as singing at Carnegie Hall, but also underwrites the purchase of music and meets some scholarship needs.
“The board does everything they can for any girl who wants to be in Girlchoir,” Hurt pointed out. The benefits of participation are many.
“It exposes them to a different kind of music than most teen girls will be exposed to, and it’s taught my daughters so much about their voices,” she said. “And I have been amazed with both of them at their increased confidence.”
Steve Pieschel is the Girlchoir board president.
“We truly appreciate that the Drakes and the Elmores have very generously offered to open their homes and their beautiful neighborhood for the benefit of the girls who are dedicated to making beautiful music,” he said.
How to go
Home tour tickets are $20 at the Columbus Arts Council’s Rosenzweig Arts Center at 501 Main St., from Girlchoir members or board members, or at the door Saturday.
Donations to the choir may be mailed to Columbus Girlchoir, P.O. Box 8186, Columbus, MS 39705.
Learn more about Girlchoir at columbusgirlchoir.net, follow them on Facebook or call 662-574-1517.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.