NOTE-able Singers set anniversary concert
(Taken from Bloomington Sun newspaper)
NASubmitted Photo
(Created 5/27/2004 3:13:39 PM)

NOTEable Singers, one of the longest performing arts groups in Bloomington, will be presenting its 30th anniversary concert, “I Hear Music,” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, in the Schneider Theater at Civic Plaza, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road.

With song and dance, the singers will perform show tunes, golden oldies, swing, country and gospel numbers. The concert is free but donations will be accepted to help cover expenses.

Included in the concert repertoire will be songs in these segments: golden oldies; just for fun; the gospel truth; country is cool; and hurray for Hollywood. The group also plans a segment in which former singers will be invited on stage to join in one number.

NOTEable Singers includes 12 singers from Bloomington, Richfield, Edina and Burnsville. The group’s accompanist is Joy Michel, and Judy Nurkkala is the director.

Singers are: Judy Adkins, president, Theo Coenen, Mary Nessel Erickson, Rebecca Fahlin, Dawn Greimel, Marian Horning, Sandy Indahl, Sally Kail, Ginny Laughinghouse, Candace McClenahan, Sheron Sheehan and Miriam Spears.

NOTEable Singers had its beginning 30 years ago as an outreach of the Washburn Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association. After letters were sent to mothers of the school children inviting them to join, eight mothers came to the first rehearsal.

With the $50 given to them by the PTA, they bought copies of a book called “Sugar and Spice” and their singing began. Inspired by the title of the book, they called themselves Sugar and Spice Singers.

They booked their first concert for the PTA at Humboldt Heights Elementary School.

The group changed considerably during their second year as some women from the disbanded Richfield Mother Singers joined. The group swelled from the original eight singers to 26, the largest in its history.

As the years went on, the singers took on a much more rigorous schedule as they began to sing at events throughout the Twin Cities area. The NOTEable Singers began to choreograph some of their numbers. They were accepted as members of the Bloomington Fine Arts Council. They changed the group’s name to NOTEable Singers.

Judy Nurkkala has been director for 10 years. During that time, the group began to call itself a show choir. The singers own state-of-the-art sound equipment which they take with them as they provide music for civic groups, banquets, meetings, parties, shopping malls and senior residences.

NOTEable Singers now have a home in the Bloomington Center for the Arts where they rehearse every Tuesday evening from September through June. They perform an average of two concerts each month and draw from their repertoire to design a program to fit any group’s needs.