It's hard to interview a whole choir. The Kirkland Choral Society has grown to 70 members since its founding in 1988. Too many to coordinate all the schedules.

Downtowner Marilyn Buenemann would characterize it as "trying to nail jello to the wall." So, I met with only Carolyn Hamby and Marlene Howard, the society's historian. First contact with the choir was to hear them practice Mozart's "Requiem."

Practice is twice [correction: once] a week from 7:30 – 9:30 [correction: 7:15 – 9:15] in the evening. The evening I showed up I sat listening and listening until slightly after 9. I went home feeling a little guilty listening to such a fine performance without paying admission.

"We normally take a break, but everyone wanted to keep going," Carolyn explained.

"Glenn Gregg, the choir's music director asked if we wanted to take a break. We all answered that no, we didn't. We sang right through."

A beautiful sound, these 70 voices harmonizing Mozart's composition. The Requiem was written by Mozart for [a] secret patron as the memoriam for the patron's deceased wife. Interestingly enough, he passed it off as his own production, rather than give credit to Mozart. (That happens now too. Elvis had many writers and Carol King wrote many songs for others before she gave us "Tapestry.") The plot thickens even more than good gravy. Mozart died before completing the composition. Franz Saver Sussmayr, hired by Mozart's' widow, completed the Requiem. The Requiem was the background music for the movie "Amadeus."

I wondered who all these people are and how they could sound so good on a rainy night in May.

"Amazonians, engineers, health professionals, designers, administrators, teachers," Carolyn listed a few disciplines. She also said they range from 20 to 70 years old. Marlene added there is a father and son team.

This made me additionally interested in who all these people are because the director auditions every choir member, every year. Certainly they must have extensive voice training. Not so.

Remember the two people I met with, Carolyn and the historian Marlene? Carolyn majored in music in college. Marlene adds "I haven't had any formal professional training. I've just sung since I was a little kid." She then added she came here from North Dakota where she walked miles to school in the snow. So, as Carolyn puts it, "This is a group made up of people with training and those with just great voices."

Wonder what music they listen to?

Carolyn: "I mostly listen to Blues and Jazz and some classical. I like the old hymns, too. My Grandmother played an organ for the church. Mostly she'd get us to go to bed by playing us a church hymn."

Marlene, an organist, listens to family radio on Sunday afternoon. "They have Sacred Classical music."

Then I asked for their most rewarding experience with choir. Both thought carefully here. Carolyn spoke first.

"I guess this season has been the most rewarding. That is because the music has been more challenging. The audiences are bigger and we've had a semi-standing ovation." Both laughed embarrassed here.

Marlene commented," it's hard to pick 'em out. There's been so many this past season. In trying [different venues] we were at Bastyr. The anticipation of performing at the Kirkland Performance Center."

The Requiem will be performed on June 2 at 2 p.m. at the Kirkland Performance Center on Kirkland Avenue. This is the first time the choir has performed at KPC.

"Can we say we have [an] anonymous benefactor to help us with the hall rental," Marlene looked at Carolyn asking gently.

All through our meeting the two members kept emphasizing the choir wants to attract new members. Seems their director keeps the men and women balanced. So, besides seeing the performance, they can also be reached at their booth at Summerfest and at www.kirklandchoralsociety.org.