LOUISIANA, Mo — What started out as a little group of instrumentalists playing Christmas carols six years ago has now grown to 18 musicians and 12 handbell choir members.

We call ourselves “Joyful Noise” from Psalm 93. We are a Christian-based swing band and we love to entertain. This year, our venue was the lovely Keeley Center on West Georgia Street.

We presented a program entitled “An Evening With Judy and Frank” April 26 and 27. We selected familiar tunes made famous by Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra from their enormous library of works.

The Joyful Noise members are a diverse group of people, including a dentist, lawyer, banker, IRS agent, two pastors, seven current and retired music educators, five teens and two professional musicians – Jerry Epperson and Jimmy Spear. Our one thing in common? We all love playing jazz music.

Vocalists featured this year were Leah Diffey, Donna Grote, Debra Ingram and Linda Shade for the Judy segment. Singing for Frank were Richard Biggs, Beomseon Hong and Kevin Jobe.

Isabelle and Lylah Diffey and Nora Fronick sang with other vocalists on “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Other Garland classics were “You Made Me Love You,” “Stormy Weather,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “My Funny Valentine,” “Skylark,” “I Don’t Want to Walk Without You,” “Train,” “Easter Parade,” “Trolley Song,” and “Me and My Shadow.”

Tunes made famous by Sinatra were “All the Things You Are,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” “River Stay Away From My Door,” “One for My Baby,” “That’s What God Looks Like to Me,” “Tender Trap,” “It was a Very Good Year,” “All the Way,” “That’s Life,” “My Way” and “The Best is Yet to Come.” All vocalists and the audience joined in on the finale, “New York, New York.”

In addition, tap dancers Clare Clever, Austin Fronick and Dakota Davis showed their skills.

Band members in addition to Hong were Judy and Carl Schmidt, Jessica Colvin, Emerson Bradley, Bill Blackmore, Nick Fregeau, Andrew Hanson, Joanna Brock, Jericho Olson Hoaglin, Joshua Koenig, Braedon Cox and Sherri Patrick.

Handbell choir members in addition to Brock, Patrick and Hong were Ann Narramore, Linda Shade, Phyllis Bridwell, Alice Holtzhouser, Mary Stapleton, Vicky Keely, Linda Narramore and Pingping Fregeau.

The production was under the direction of Donna Henry, with master of ceremonies duties shared by Ryan and Sarah Fronick. Becky Blair served as director’s assistance and Patrick was house manager.

Almost 250 people attended over the two performances. A portion of proceeds will go to Louisiana and Clopton high schools. The balance will go to repair of Centenary United Methodist Church’s organ, which is more than 100 years old.

Pingping Fregeau displays a colorful umbrella during the Judy Garland song “Easter Parade.”

Joyful Noise Director Donna Henry conducts the band

 

Cutline for photo:

Isabelle Diffey, left, Nora Fronick and Lylah Diffey sway to the tune “The Best is Yet to Come” during a Joyful Noise performance of “An Evening With Judy and Frank” at The Keely Center in Louisiana. Two-hour shows were offered April 26 and 27 featuring hits by Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra. The girls are dressed as Dorothy from “The Wizard Oz” because they were among the singers who performed one of the 1939 movie’s signature songs, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

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