Zogelman joins community chorus at Hillsboro
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Scott Zogelman of Florence always has been involved in music, and that lifelong love led him to join the community choir that was organized four months ago at Hillsboro.
Known as the Tabor College Community Chorale, it is directed by Brad Vogel, choral director at Tabor. The choir is made up of at least 30 singers, mostly college students and adults from the Hillsboro area, but also others from throughout Marion County.
According to Vogel, at least five communities are represented. In addition to Zogelman, Connie Omstead and Lois Winter of Florence also are involved.
For 20 years, Zogelman led the music program in the Catholic church in Florence but decided to take a break from it. The community choir gave him an opportunity to participate in a group again.
"I missed being involved in music," Zogelman said, "and I wanted to be involved where music was appreciated, not just taken for granted," he said. "Everybody wants to be there, they don't have to be there.
"In school, there are always some participants who are there to fill a requirement. Here, people really enjoy music and working together. Brad also keeps the rehearsals light and cheerful."
The group will perform at 7 p.m. Monday at the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.
Zogelman studied music in college and has a degree in music merchandising from Emporia State University.
"Voice was my instrument," he said.
He was a member of the college choir when they sang in Carnegie Hall in New York City during a Memorial Day concert.
Zogelman has sung for many weddings, funerals, and anniversary celebrations.
For 10 years, he worked at Senseney Music in Wichita, where he managed the instrument rental part of the business. He saw his job as a chance to help as many kids as possible to get the opportunity to try music. If they found out it wasn't for them, at least they had a taste of it.
"At the age most kids start band and learn to read music, I didn't have that opportunity even though I really wanted it," he said.
For several years after he left the employ of the music store, he helped out each fall, going to area schools and getting instruments into the hands of beginners.
Although he is single,
Zogelman has been involved in the lives of his nieces and nephews.
"I like to think that I had an influence on them," he said. "They have all been involved in music at some point. Several of them were the top musician in their senior year in high school and some have used their music for college scholarships.
"My nephew has his own band, The Callahan Band, which is an area favorite. I think that is my legacy: to pass on the desire to make music."
To be closer to his family, he has spent the past seven years as office manager for Reliance Energy Partners, LLC, in Peabody. His mother, Bert Zogelman, and two brothers and their wives, Pat and Mary and Nick and Sharon, live in Florence, and his sister, Carol Callahan lives in Burns.
The Tabor College Community Chorale has been practicing every Monday evening for four months. Zogelman said at first he wasn't sure if he knew what he was doing. Then he realized it had been 19 years since he sang in a choir and read music by sight. He soon gained confidence and now is looking forward to Monday's performance.
"People who come to this concert to listen are making an effort, as are the performers," he said. "If you are really bored and need something to do, this beats TV."
