The Pahrump Community Choir will present its annual spring concert, 7 p.m., Thursday, April 3 in the Pahrump Nugget Events Center. The theme for this year's performance is "Songs from the Old West." Advertisement

Thursday evening at 7 p.m., April 3 the Pahrump Community Choir, under the direction of Andrew Barnum, will present the annual spring concert in the events center of the Pahrump Nugget.

The theme of this year's event is "Songs of the old West" and the concert will feature familiar tunes from childhood memories, such as, "Home on the Range" and "Streets of Laredo."

"The songs are authentic American folk music," Barnum said. "Some are derived from the cowboys who used to sing to the cattle at night on those long drives. 'The Yellow Rose of Texas' is an old minstrel tune," he continued. "Many of the old songs tell a story of the hard times living in the old West."

Country and western music has roots in old western tunes. "Don't Fence Me In" and "Ghost Riders in the Sky" are modern versions of the cowboy's story.

Popular Western singers and actors like Roy and Dale Evans, Gene Autry and Vaughn Monroe made the songs their own and shared them with the people.

Dale Evans wrote the music and lyrics for one of the most popular Western songs of all. "Happy Trails" became the signature song for Roy and Dale Evans at the end of their radio and television shows. It was a perfect blend of voices.

"There will be an intermission for the choir giving "Cornbread Amos," a.k.a. George Strickland, a chance to lend his particular brand of country to the show in a rendition of cowboy poetry. He will recite some of his favorite works.

Daleena Craig and Miriam Mason accompany the choir.

Featured soloists will be Doug Farr and Gary Griffith in a medley of tunes.

New members are always welcome. Members represent the community from all walks of life.

The ability to read music is helpful, but the only requirement is the love of singing. The choir rehearses weekly at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Rosemary Clarke Middle School music room.

Andrew Barnum, the choir director, retired after a 32-year career teaching music, primarily in the elementary grades. He holds a master's degree in Music Education from Wichita State University. Barnum is an accomplished timpanist (player of the kettle drums) and has been performing as the principal timpanist for the Grand Junction, Colorado symphony for 15 years, and has spent 2 years playing for the Nacht Music Chamber Orchestra of Salt Lake City, Utah. His background includes several years as a church choir director and organist.

For more information on joining the choir, call Andrew Barnum, 751-6957.

This family event is a tour down the memory trail. The concert is free and open to the public; however donations will be gratefully accepted.

The concert is sponsored by the Pahrump Arts Council with major support from the Town of Pahrump Cultural Arts Fund, the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Call PAC, 751-6776, for more information.