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This March I will begin my 14th year as a member of the Little Apple Chorus. I first joined about 20 years ago when my co-worker in the State 4-H Office at K-State, Charlie Lang, invited me to visit. I remained active for about 5 years, then my work schedule and family commitments seemed to take priority. After several years away--although I did attend most of the spring shows during that time--I rejoined and have enjoyed the opportunity to sing with this great bunch of men. It seems like I have been a singer for as long as I can remember. I have vague memories of children's choir and early Christmas programs in church. My first solo performance was singing "How Great Thou Art" at church when I was a 5th grader. Of course I was singing soprano then! I was blessed with a terrific vocal instructor who came to the Meade school district when I was in the 5th grade. I began singing at school league contests then, and continued to sing solos every year until I graduated, also participating in select ensembles and chorus at the state contests. One of my most favorite memories is of our high school Madrigal group singing for a joint session of the Kansas House and Senate. That was my first trip to Topeka, and in those days you could still go to the top of the dome and look out over the city! I also have played various musical instruments as my interest and the need presented itself--piano, flute, organ, sousaphone, bass drum in marching band, and xylophone in concert band. I represented Meade High School in the All-state Lions band and International Band that traveled to Los Angeles the summer of 1966. Imagine packing a fiberglass sousaphone in blankets in the luggage section of a tour bus for that trip. Music continues to be a defining part of who I am. I sang in the K-State Concert Choir all 4 years at K-State under the direction of the then new director, Rod Walker. Last year I was appointed as a charter member of the K-State Choirs Advisory Council. I have been active in the music programs of my church, and have sung at lots of funerals and weddings over the years. I enjoy listening to all types of music and my wife and I belong to a local dance club. I look forward to the weekly barbershop chorus rehearsals as another regular opportunity to try and keep my voice in shape. Steve Fisher Music & Performance VP ♪ |
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Vocal and band music have always been enjoyed. My early participation in music included some piano lessons; school vocal music and marching band, Cridersville, Ohio; and one quarter of playing a tuba in the ROTC band, The Ohio State University. Choir singing started as a youth and later in the chapel choir of Garrett Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois; our church during graduate school in Columbus, Ohio; our church in northern Virginia; and the College Avenue United Methodist Church, Manhattan. In 1979, I started working at Kansas State University with the International Grains Program (IGP) and the Food and Feed Grain Institute. For 16 years I taught grain marketing in the Dept. of Agricultural Economics and for the last seven years I’ve been full time with IGP. IGP responsibilities have included organizing, teaching and coordinating short courses on purchasing and exporting U.S. grain, international price risk management, and feed manufacturing. I have been blessed to meet business executives from over 70 countries and visit at least a dozen countries. A unique experience was hearing familiar church hymns sung in Japanese in a Tokyo Christian church. All four of our kids were involved in music at Manhattan High by participating in marching band, orchestra and choral singing. Our middle daughter’s music interest led her to obtain a BS degree in vocal music education. Janet and I have very much enjoyed barbershop music since I joined the chapter about 12 years ago. Even before joining we attended chapter spring shows because former member Charlie Lang sold us tickets. We have attended the International Contests and Conventions since the 2000 one in Kansas City and several CSD’s conventions. I too like the Society’s motto – “Singing is Life…The Rest is Details.” Harvey Kiser ♪Marketing and Public Relations VP ♪ |
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Meet Member Steve Fisher |
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Meet Member Harvey Kiser |
