Sandlapper Singers “How long will songs stir us from our sleep? And why must we beg for ears to hear?” It is a question pondered by many musicians but especially the singers for which those words were written. Penned by Sandlapper Singers director Lillian Quackenbush in 2005, “Ode to Sandlappers” will be one of many American choral pieces performed during the group’s fall concert “People, Places & Things that Make America Great!” Friday evening. The piece was composed by long–time friend and Columbia jazz legend Dick Goodwin, whose quintet will join the Sandlapper Singers for several numbers during the concert.

“All of us have day jobs,” said Quackenbush, who recently retired from Columbia College. The singers represent a wide range of ages and occupations. Some are teachers, choir conductors, and pharmacists just to name a few.

These musicians give up evenings and weekends to practice their craft and perform it at various venues across the state including Charleston’s Piccolo Spoleto.

Every year Quackenbush, who formed the group with husband and fellow singer Dave in 1996, searches for new ways to make choral music entertaining for the group’s devoted following and perhaps draw new fans into the fold. This fall’s concert will include a selection of “moon tunes” performed with the Dick Goodwin Quintet. Three pieces, “Blue Moon,” “Moon River,” and “Moonglow,” were arranged by Goodwin. The quintet will also play on “How High the Moon,” “Lullaby of Birdland” and several others.

A piece of particular interest to poetry fans is “The Performance,” composed by Steven Van Wye with lyrics from James Dickey’s poem about the beheading of a WWII comrade. The song will be preceded by a video of Dickey reading the poem.

Last year the Sandlapper Singers Board decided a change of venue was in order. The group had been performing at Ebenezer Lutheran Church for several years and while the space was intimate and the acoustics superb, parking limitations and size were becoming an issue. So, they decided to take a chance and moved to the new Dreher High School Auditorium in hopes of both enhancing their educational mission and having more of a presence in the Shandon community. As part of their educational mission the group also invites local school choirs and instrumental groups to perform at various concerts, particularly Christmas.

The concert will be held at 7:30 pm, October 16 at the Dreher High School Auditorium. Tickets are $5–$15 and are available at the door and from www.sandlappersingers. org