Long days, warm nights and campfire songs are some of Cara Miller’s favorite memories about summer.
They were the inspiration for the compilation of songs Miller hand picked as choir director for the Presser Pipes’ “Sweet Sweet Summer” concert that was held on the Presser Arts Center mainstage May 29.
Miller has been directing the choir since it started in 2018. She chooses the themes and songs, puts together all of the sheet music and directs the weekly practices as well as the performances.
The hardest part of her job, Miller said, is finding the sheet music for all the songs she wants to fit for a four-part harmony.
“It’s so fun to watch those first few practices when they see the music,” said Miller. “By the time the concert rolls around, I’m like ‘look what you’ve done.’”
Presser Pipes began meeting weekly in early February to prepare for the summer show that included summertime classics such as “Farmer Tan” and “Kokomo.”
“To see their progress and to see their confidence build and they become better singers – I just love all of it,” said Miller.
Choir members were dressed in their summer best and the stage was lined with decorations fit for a day on the beach. What made this summer production so special, Cara said, was the surprise audience involvement.
During “Surfin’ USA,” the choir sent beach balls flying into the audience, who kept them bouncing for the entire song.
Presser Pipes Choir is a volunteer, community choir open to adults of any age. Miller said she has singers who are still in college singing alongside those in their 80s.
“We have approximately 40 people and that’s a lot of personalities to put together in a room but we have become a family,” said Miller.
And that bond keeps singers coming back week after week.
“Cara is a huge part of that,” said tenor Sharon Nelson. “If it was not for her, we wouldn’t be, for one thing, but she makes it fun and it is just a wonderful group of people.”
Not everyone in the choir is from Mexico. Members come from all over Audrain County and the surrounding areas. Nelson comes from Centralia every week for practice.
The Presser Pipes Choir community has been building their reputation primarily based on word of mouth.
“We are constantly adding new people,” said Miller. “This semester we had six new people who came.”
One of the choir’s newer members, soprano Katie Pugh, was invited by her coworker Cindy Newman.
“We are just all excited to get together and sing and I think it’s the highlight of everyone’s week,” said Pugh.
Anyone is welcome to join – so long as they can sing.
“I always tell everyone that we’re not a normal choir – we are a fun choir,” said Miller. “They're some of the best people I have ever met.”
Presser Pipes has finished weekly practices for the summer but they will reconvene in late July or early August to prepare for their Christmas Concert.
“Mexico is a pretty darn good place to be and this is one of the reasons it is, both for us and the audience,” said bass singer Bob Fenlon.
