Singing Valentines Raise Funds for Local Chorus

Members of the Harbor City Music Company show chorus, hailing from Pasadena, Severna Park and the surrounding areas, smile, dance and are enthusiastic about their music during a rehearsal Wednesday at the Chesapeake Center for the Creative Arts in Brooklyn Park.

They are also using their talents to offer people in the Baltimore and Washington areas singing valentines and goodies for Valentine's Day—all to raise money for music, competition fees and to pay for rental rehearsal space.

"I love delivering singing valentines. People are amazed when we break into song. You blow a pitch and if you start singing well, they go, 'Woah,'" said Nancy Gaither, a 19-year veteran and president of the nonprofit chorus.

Gaither said not all members of the 71-member chorus, directed by Michael Gellert of Severna Park, will deliver the singing valentines. However, five quartets from the chorus will spread out on Valentine's Day Monday to not only sing, but to bring a card with the customer's sentiment and a memento of flowers or candy. 

Gaither said for $60 customers can send the valentines greetings and the memento of the experience. She said the chorus has been offering singing valentines for about 13 years.

"We saw it as a good fundraiser," she said.

The singing valentines are offered in the local area and for $15 the quartets will call the customer's United States-based sweetheart to sing to him or her.

"We go to work places and restaurants," Gaither said. "One guy climbed down a telephone pole to hear his valentine."

She said she even has delivered the musical valentines to two past Maryland governors, Parris Glendening and William Donald Schaefer.

Gaither said it is nice to go to someone to deliver a singing valentine another person requests one for their sweetheart.

Even last February's blizzard didn't totally keep the chorus from delivering the singing valentines greetings. Gaither said they weren't delivered during the bad weather, but afterward.

When delivering the singing valentines the musicians, ranging in age from 24 to above 80, often wear red, bringing the card and memento with them.

"You get hooked in the chorus. There are four mother and daughter combos and two sets of sisters," Gaither said. "We're all here because we love to sing."

The quartets can sing many songs for Valentine's Day, and some of Gaither's favorite past songs were "Fly Me to the Moon," "Love Me With All Your Heart," "Unforgettable" and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love."

The singing valentines are expected to be delivered from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

For more information about reserving a singing valentine, visit the chorus' Web site at harborcitymusiccompany.org or call 800-856-9868.