BUENA PARK : Community Chorus to Mark 25th Year

For 25 years, the Buena Park Community Chorus has been a harmonious voice of the city, providing entertainment for others and a family-like environment for its members.

It is their love of music that keeps the 50 chorus members in tune with each other.

“They’re a wonderful, caring group of people who love to sing every chance they get,” said John Faller, who has directed the chorus for 14 years.

The volunteer chorus sings at nursing homes and hospitals, special city events, birthdays and weddings, funerals and political rallies.

“It gives you a good feeling to sing with these people because they all give up their time to sing . . . and make people happy,” said chorus president Hal Bentley, 66, of La Mirada.

“If I wasn’t singing I would probably be fishing,” he said. “There’s nothing like singing with a bunch of people who like to sing. It’s a good feeling.”

The chorus will celebrate its 25th anniversary at three special concerts this weekend at the Performing Arts Center at Buena Park High School, 8833 Academy Drive.

The chorus will present “25 years of Musical Memories” at 8 p.m Friday and Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for seniors and students. Children under 12 are free. Tickets are available at the door or by calling (714) 523-1635 or (714) 562-3844.

Bentley, who is co-producer of the show with Pete Pedersen, said 28 songs will be performed, including such old-time favorites as “Hello, Dolly” and “Alexander’s Rag Time Band.”

The chorus, which rehearses on Monday nights, has members who live in Orange and Los Angeles counties and represent 15 cities, said Faller, 59, an Orange resident.

Faller said the chorus gives 25 to 30 performances a year. In July, the chorus will leave for Hawaii to perform benefit concerts there.

The chorus is sponsored in part by the city--one of few community singing groups that receives municipal funding, Faller said.

Gary A. Olivas, superintendent of recreation and community services, said Bunea Park budgets about $3,000 a year for the chorus. Most of the funding goes to pay the director and an accompanist for rehearsals and performances. The group also holds fund-raisers and accepts donations at performances to offset expenses.