Men’S Chorus Marks 10 Years

The Inland Northwest Men’s Chorus celebrates its 10th anniversary with a “Decade of Song” tonight.

Chorus director David Denman Smith says the chorus will perform some past favorites as well as some exciting new offerings.

Smith is the third director in the history of the 25-member ensemble. He has invited his two predecessors to appear tonight as well as all past members of the chorus. Eighty men or so have sung with the group since its inception, and Smith is hoping to get as many as possible back for the anniversary. Chris Berg, president of the organization, is the only member to have sung with the chorus all 10 years.

Asked if a decade represents any kind of milestone, Smith was reluctant to credit the mark with any special significance. “We are right on schedule,” he said. “Everything is going well. But it is interesting that we have been around 10 years and so many people don’t know we exist. I think that some people are just starting to be aware that there is a men’s chorus in Spokane.”

The chorus has been putting itself on the map by participating in community events as well as their regular concert series. In March, they performed for their largest audience ever, singing the U.S. and Canadian national anthems for a full Arena before a Spokane Chiefs hockey game.

The Inland Northwest Men’s Chorus holds no auditions, per se. It is open to anyone willing to commit to the group and its schedule. The guys in the chorus have fun, and their goal is to be entertaining and let audiences have as much fun as they are having.

Tonight’s concert includes the INMC’s nostalgic hits “In the Still of the Night,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Steam Heat,” “Save the Bones for Henry Jones” and “Ghost Riders in the Sky.”

Audiences have come to expect humor and novelty as well, but Smith declined to reveal the gag du jour. He would only say they were working on “some sort of surprise in keeping with the tradition. If you enjoyed the moo- and bark-along at our Christmas concert, just wait until you experience the sequel.”

The Inland Northwest Men’s Chorus presents “Celebrating a Decade of Song” at 8 tonight at The Met. Tickets are $10 in advance, available at G&B Select a-Seat outlets or call (800) 325-SEAT, or $12 at the door.