keeping the music alive

Over the past nine years, the Valentine Spectacular has established itself as a Scott City tradition, selling out for both nights of the annual performance.

But there was some doubt as to whether performers would return for a 10th year following the death of director Vernon Dietz in August. The former Scott Community High School band director had also directed the Valentine Spectacular from 2005-08, and was to direct last year’s performance as well until poor health forced him to step aside.

“I waited to ask about doing it again,” says Julie Mason, who is among a handful of vocalists who have performed with the group since its inception. “I knew it would be tough for some to consider right away, especially those who performed with Vernon in the Last Rezort.”

However, it was one of those band members in Last Rezort who convinced Mason that the show must go on.

Prior to his death, Dietz told longtime Rezort member Roger Winter that the Valentine program should continue. Dietz said that Winter must “promise me that you’ll keep the music alive.”

And with that promise there was no doubt the Valentine Spectacular would return for a 10th performance on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 5-6, at The Majestic. As a tribute to Dietz, this year’s theme is “For the Love of Music.”

While the annual performance consists of a solid core of vocalists, including eight who haven’t missed a performance since 2001, there are a couple of changes this year. Original Serendipity Singers Loren and Sidney Janzen have been replaced by Ron Hopkins and Marian Nolan. Because of other commitments, a vocalist had to pull out of the group recently, leaving seven male singers instead of the customary eight.

Another major change is the addition of director Joel Edwards, a former SCHS graduate who earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Mid America Nazarene University before returning to his hometown. Edwards knew he had some big . . . and emotional . . . shoes to fill.

“I know he meant a lot to so many of the people in this group,” he says. “I was glad that they asked me to direct this year and that I could become a part of this.”

In the past, it was Dietz who took on the responsibility of selecting the music well in advance of the first rehearsals that began in October. This year, Edwards and fellow musicians shared the responsibility of blending past favorites with some new selections.

Music featuring the Serendipity Guys is a cappella, including “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” in which Edwards is a soloist.

“It’s one that hadn’t been done by the group before,” Edwards says. “It’s coming together and sounds really good.”

If there was any nervous anticipation about stepping into the director’s role, that’s been replaced by excitement as the performance nears.

“There have been goose bump moments over the past couple of weeks when things are really clicking. I’m anxious to get into The Majestic next week and see how the music sounds,” adds Edwards.

A number of the songs, however, were selected as a tribute to Dietz, including some of his favorites by George Gershwin and Cole Porter. And the evening wouldn’t be complete without a medley of selections from “The Music Man.”

“If anyone was the music man, it was Vernon,” says Mason.

Also new to the program this year will be a medley of songs by the Beatles. The evening will conclude with a video tribute to Dietz.

“It’s been difficult at times when you think of Vernon and what he’s meant to so many of us, but it’s also fun,” Mason says. “I can’t think of a better way to remember Vernon than to be singing for him . . . in his memory.”

It’s all about keeping the music alive, which is what Dietz would have wanted.