SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Before a crowd of more than 400 on Saturday, the Schuylkill Choral Society tried something new, sporting Western wear and belting out ballads and dance tunes that have echoed through Nashville's Grand Ole Opry.
Under the direction of Mark P. Thomas, the 82-member chorus filled the Schuylkill Haven Area School District's Zwerling Auditorium with the harmonies of country hits from the 1950s to the present, including "Wagon Wheel," written by Ketch Secor and Bob Dylan and recently covered by Darius Rucker.
That was the first song on the program, and after the final beat, the audience gave them a round of applause.
"They're pretty good," Ginny Kunigonis, West West Terrace, who sat in the front row, said.
This was the last concert of the society's 41st season. Thomas said he was inspired to try country after performing a concert in Nashville with the Upper Perkiomen Women's Choir in April 2013.
"We've never done a country concert. I was trying to think of things we haven't done yet. When I was down in Nashville, I was walking the streets. It was getting dark, and I was hearing music coming from everywhere. Old stuff. New stuff. Rock stuff. All different styles. Every type of music. Then all of a sudden it just hit me: In Schuylkill, we're going to do country," Thomas said.
There were challenges, though, Thomas said.
"It was mostly in the words, the syncopated words. We've done jazz concerts that are syncopated. But in some of these songs, you'll have two fast notes really close together with two words, and it was really hard for them to get, especially the newer stuff, the newer country, which is really rock-oriented. They struggled getting the rhythms and the syncopation of the words. 'My Wish' was a challenge," Thomas said, referring to a song written by Steve Robson and Jeffrey Steele.
"Even 'Wagon Wheel,' they struggled with the words on that," Thomas said.
Jane Colarossi, Pottsville, a member of the choir in the alto section, said she's a fan of country music and was up for the challenge.
"What was challenging was the logistics of it. The choir was broken up into different groups who came in at different parts. It's not a traditional concert for us. It's more of a Grand Ole Opry show. But it's a lot of fun," Colarossi said.
Shaun Rohrbaugh, Pottsville, a member of the choir in the bass section, was the soloist on "I Love You This Big," written by Brett James, Ester Dean, Jay Smith and Ronnie Jackson and made popular in 2011 by singer Scotty McCreery.
Rohrbaugh's wife, Donna, was excited to hear his performance and the show as a whole.
"I'm not a big fan of country, but they did choose a good selection of songs," she said.
The program of 16 songs included country songs which permeated pop culture, like "Stand By Your Man" by Tammy Wynette and Billy Sherrill and "Nine to Five" by Dolly Parton.
To get in the spirit of things, Thomas dressed in blue denim and a black hat and let stubble grow over his chin the past few days.
Frances Raudenbush, Schuylkill Haven, a member of the choir in the alto section, dressed up as legendary comedian Minnie Pearl who was known for her work on the TV show "Hee Haw."
Raudenbush recently turned 100 and the choir presented her with flowers on stage Saturday night, Thomas said.
"She's an inspiration to all of us," Thomas said.
The choir also recognized two of its other members, accompanist Kim Breiner-Stoudt and assistant director David Watson, who celebrated their 25th season with the choir this year, according to Thomas, who celebrated his 29th season with the choir this year.
Among those in the crowd was John Sullivan, Pottsville, who's known to many in the community as entertainer "Splash the Clown."
"I'm a firm believer in Schuylkill County and supporting the activities because if you don't support the activities," Sullivan said, "they're not going to be here."