They broke all the rules, they broke some of the rules, they broke enough of the rules to prove they were 18, human and in the midst of a grand adventure.
"They" were the 1965 Bakersfield College choir that spent six weeks, 50 years ago, in Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Holland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and France and shocked the choral world by winning first prize at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in North Wales.
The choir is having a reunion this weekend. Of the 48 original members, 43 are still alive and 33 attended the reunion, including choir director Joseph Huszti.
This was no English garden variety win; it was the first-ever victory by an American choir in the mixed choir category. Not only did The Californian sing their praises but so did the Associated Press, Los Angeles Times and papers around the world.
Press coverage aside, BC’s victory led to the choir performing for Pope Paul VI at Castel Gondolfo, the papal summer residence, at Westminster Abbey and for President Lyndon Johnson in the Rose Garden on their way home to Bakersfield.
Choir members have told their children, grandchildren and about anybody else who would listen.
"My husband is so sick of me talking about it for all these years," laughed Ramona Gia.
The trip was a long shot. In order to go, the choir had to raise $54,000, or about $1,200 per member, a project that took two years.
They sold Blue Chip, Orange and Thrifty Stamp Books, painted curbs for $2, hosted an international bazaar, recorded the fight song and the alma mater, which they sold at football games for $1, had days sponsored by McDonald’s, Clark’s Broiler, Tejon and Young’s, where a portion of the proceeds were donated to the choir.
Witham’s Store had a drawing and donated a 1965 Packard Bell color television set.
They also sang to every service club, municipality and school that would have them.
“We performed in Boron, China Lake and Wasco,” said Joyce King.
Kern County was receptive. In 1965, the population of Bakersfield was 63,417. If the town seems navigable today, imagine how approachable it was 50 years ago.
Everybody knew everybody and if they didn’t, they knew somebody who did. Bakersfield College was the center of higher educational life. Hometown pride was strong and when the choir won the competition, the town exploded with pride. Choir members were treated like conquering heroes upon their return to Bakersfield.
The 28-year-old choir director, Huszti, who later ended up at UC Irvine, had plans for this choir, one of the two favorites of his long career.
“Mr. Huszti raised the bar high,” King said. “We were not allowed to be mediocre.”
In addition to Huszti’s musical expectations, each member had to sign a code of ethics which included rules like:
“A member of the Bakersfield College Choir will not possess or use an alcoholic beverage.”
“A member of the BC choir will not be in the room of a member of the opposite sex when they are unchaperoned.”
“A woman will act like a lady and a man will act like a gentleman.”
“We signed it and we never thought about it again,” King said.
’Throat Lozenges Aid Vocal Victory’
The trip to Europe took 27 hours and when the 48 singers and six chaperones landed in Shannon, Ireland, they were met with smoke and fire engines. They had lost a tire taking off at JFK.
“I remember seeing the tire fly by,” said Char Gaines. “I asked the stewardess if that was a tire and she said no.”
After two weeks in Ireland, it was time for the competition in Wales. Half the choir had colds. Choir member Jane Chapin excused herself from the competition because she didn’t want to compromise the choir’s chances of winning.
The choir sang “Tenebrae Factae Sunt,” “In Pride of May” and “Christ is Arisen.”
They won. One point separated first from second and second from third. First prize was 450 pounds or $1,200. The headlines the next day read, “Throat Lozenges Aid Vocal Victory.” One judge was quoted as saying, “Warm hearts must be behind warm tones. They at once thrilled us and engaged our sympathy.”
To celebrate, the choir sang “God Bless America.”
Within 30 days, the choir had sung for Pope Paul VI (the first American choir ever to do so) and Presidential Lyndon Johnson and had had a ripping European tour.
Memories included:
Char Gaines — “Driving into Paris and the first thing we saw was the Eiffel Tower lit up.”
Rebecca Conner Von Elm — “I remember being shocked by the audience reaction to opera singers who were a bit off key. Hisses. I had never heard an audience behave that way. I felt sorry for the singers.”
Joyce Caldwell King — “Being offered a glass of mead when we landed after we had pledged no alcohol."
Jordan Grant — “The thousand pigeons in St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy.”
Cathy Clark — “In London, on July 4th, we saw an anti-American demonstration in Hyde Park (Vietnam War) and decided to celebrate the 4th in our hotel with cake and Cokes.”
Marilyn Wilson — “I remember no security at all at the White House. I felt like we just walked right in.”
When they landed at Meadows Field, the choir was greeted by more than 3,000 people, including Mayor RV Karlen and about every local luminary that hadn’t met them in Washington for their visit to the White House.
The choir sang the college alma mater and “God Bless America” to the crowd. Their return was splashed on the front page of the following day’s paper.
The trip launched a lifetime of travel, music and adventure for many people.
“As wonderful as our trip was,” said Von Elm, “I realized it was the opening of a door to a more open and exciting life.”
For five couples, who met on the trip, that “exciting life” included getting married.
