Arts & Entertainment
Wildwood Singers Spring Forward at Annual Concert
Wildwood Singers present annual concert before a crowd of about 100 at Mentor Senior Center
Ken Wellman and Celaine Wellman have been side by side for 45 years.
So it was only fitting that the longtime couple sang a duet of the classic song Side By Side at the Spring Forward concert presented by the Wildwood Singers Friday Evening at the Mentor Senior Center.
Directed by David Debick, the Wildwood Singers performed a mélange of more than 20 songs from various musical genres including popular hits, jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, classical, show tunes and country.
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“Being a part of the Wildwood Singers gives all of us the opportunity to sing and share with other people who also enjoy this wonderful music,” said Celaine Wellman, who began singing in her teen years for the church choir. Her husband was bit of a latecomer, who joined the church choir about 20 years ago.
“I knew he had a nice voice,” Celaine Wellman said. “He finally came along.”
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The Wildwood Singers practice every week for about two hours at the Wildwood Cultural Center.
“It’s a really a fun group. Our director David Debick is quite a spark plug,” said Celaine Wellman. “He’s very patient with us.”
At Friday night's concert, the group recognized longtime Wildwood Singers member Joe Novak, who was unable to perform because of illness.
“In addition to being an avid singer and musician, Joe served as a U.S. Marine in World War II and fought in Iwo Jima,” Debick told the audience of about 100.
In Novak's honor, Bob Chinchar performed My Way, popularized by the legendary singer Frank Sinatra in 1969.
Also performing solos were Barb Digiovine, Dottie Kuret, Jan Meinke, Becky Richardson, Beth Vento, Linda Mowka, Jill Greer and Clarice Varga. Additional members of the Wildwood Singers are Don Brown, Ruth Endres, Pat McCarthy, Marilyn Finnie, Norma Ickes and Becky Richardson.
Founded in 1986, the Wildwood Singers also hold an annual Christmas concert and present musical programs at area nursing homes and civic functions throughout the year. Debick has been directing the Wildwood Singers for four years. The group’s first director was Dorothy Vogelin.
The Spring Forward concert was sponsored by the city of Mentor, The Wildwood Cultural Center and the Community Arts Commission.
For booking information, call the Wildwood office at 440-974-5735.