By CHRIS THORN

It has been 96 years since the Camerata Club Men’s Chorus established themselves and they are still going strong, most recently performing at the Capitol Theatre.

Their concert this year had three sections with three or four songs each. The Camerata Club finished the evening with their them song, “Friendship,” written by W. F. Haesche. The group said the tradition of ending with that song began at the hand of conductor Stan Lebens, in 1943. Former members of the club were invited on stage to perform with the group.

There is quite a bit of history to the group, aside from their annual concerts. They began in the summer of 1915 with Thomas Toll, Jess Barber, and Carl Talcott.

According to the club, the name “Camerata Club Men’s Chorus” came from the 15th century Florentine opera group and was suggested by Professor A.B. Dow.

After numerous rehearsals, the group gave its first concert on January 14, 1916 under the helm of Thomas Toll at the First Christian Church here in Yakima. Venues for the group’s concerts changed over the years but participation has been strong.

Dick Schut, Camerata Club member and publicity representative, remembers joining in 1955.

“I applied for the music scholarship,” he said. “But I liked it and stuck with it.”

The Camerata Club is well known for the music scholarship they offer every year through their community service project. 

The scholarship goes toward any “aspiring and promising young high school student or organization who want to go on to a musical career.” The scholarship is called the Dick Tuesley Camerata Scholarship Fund, named after a former Camerata Club member.

“The guys who belong to Camerata are a great bunch,” Schut said. “[We] enjoy each other as friends and fellow songsters.”

The current director of the club is Roger Stansbury, who taught in the valley for more than 30 years in Selah, Yakima, Bothell, and West Valley schools. He served four terms as president o fthe Yakima Valley Music Educators and has a host of other achievements.

The assistant director is Carl North who is also an educator in the valley and a singer with Yakima Symphony Chorus and Wesley United Methodist Church.

The Camerata Club Men’s Chorus has many different performances throughout the year including being a part of the International Choral Festival.

“We’ll be asked to sing at small functions throughout the valley as well,” said Schut.

The group meets every Monday night from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for rehearsal at Wesley United Methodist Church located at 14 North 48th Ave. in Yakima.