| People in the Choir |
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Betty
Diehl
is a 40 plus
year resident of Ferndale, and along with being director of the Ferndale
Community Choir, she is known in the community as a singer in her own right
.
. . having sung everything from lullabies to her four kids, to solos from
Handel’s “Messiah,” to the rousing “Flamin’ Agnes.”
In the early years of the choir her mentor was Bill Crane, a
long-time music teacher in Ferndale.
She also directs the Chameleon Singers, and sings with West
Broadway Co.
In the daytime, Betty can be found on her "window to the world" at Becker Insurance in Ferndale. Her desk is designated with the "Day Sleeper" sign. |
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Beverly Carlson
is an accomplished musician, and conducts several selections each
season. A retired school teacher, Bev now wields a paintbrush as a
partner in C & C Painting . . . we can always tell what color she is
working with by checking out either her hands or ears.
Bev has a conducting style all her own, and the choir loves to sing for her . . . although everyone will agree that she's a tougher taskmaster than Betty. Let me tell you, when she directs with her fists, people follow her every move! When she's not conducting, she's singing tenor . . . and when she's not singing tenor, she's telling jokes in the tenor section, mocking sopranos, and trying to avoid Betty's scolding eye. |
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Dana Christen is the Choir's talented pianist, having been a guest accompanist in past years and then joining the Choir full time during the Winter 2005 season. Dana grew up in Scotia and began her piano studies at the age of five. She is a graduate of HSU with a B.A. Degree in Music and teaching credential then subsequently earned a Master's Degree in Music Education from the University of Oregon. Since graduating from HSU in 1981, Dana has taught music at the Loleta and Scotia Elementary Schools. She was recently voted the Outstanding Music Educator for the North Coast Section of California Music Educators for 2006-2007. Dana and her husband Art have two daughters, Kady and Karly. Dana plays piano with many other local musicians, including the Humboldt Ragtime Band and a group of retired music teachers in Fortuna. She also accompanies the choirs at Fortuna Union High School. |