Concert series honors the late Nanci Crewe
A new concert series will launch Sunday, July 7, at Signal Crest United Methodist Church in memory of Nanci Crewe, who left a legacy in arts advocacy not only on Signal Mountain, but across Chattanooga.
“Nanci and her husband, Stan, were so very important to many iconic things on Signal and beyond,” says Allan Ledford, music director at Signal Crest UMC. “The Nanci Crewe Summer Concert Series is created in her memory. Nanci’s energy, passion, love of music and support of the arts is honored through this series that features excellence in music.”
Each performance in the Nanci Crewe Summer Concert Series will serve as the music portion of the Sunday morning service at Signal Crest, however the programs are open to the public. Each service begins at 11 a.m. in the church sanctuary, 1005 Ridgeway Ave.
Ledford says the Crewes moved to Signal Mountain in 1964, and soon after she was involved in the Signal Mountain Glee Club, first as a singer, then as its director. That women’s ensemble performed around town at club events, retirement homes and civic activities. The Glee Club was even invited to sing at the Knoxville World’s Fair.
She then founded and directed a Men’s Chorus on Signal for several years.
She was hired as organist/choir master at Signal Crest UMC, and continued in that position, off and on, for more than 30 years.
The Crewes, along with two other couples, founded the Signal Mountain Playhouse in 1972. She served as music director for numerous shows, and even appeared onstage in a few shows. Begun as a way to involve the youth of Signal Mountain in the arts, the theater is now in its 47th year, presenting two productions annually.
While an active member of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Guild, Crewe’s two favorite activities were helping host elementary students for CSO student performances and accompanying participants in the Guild’s vocal scholarship competition.
Ledford says performers in the new series were chosen either “because they were people Nanci was crazy about” or for the style of music they present being a style she enjoyed.
Van Smith, whom Ledford describes as an accomplished pianist and singer, is a recently retired UPS employee who drove the route on Signal Mountain. He played and sang at Crewe’s funeral in November 2018.
“Nanci had a big Steinway piano in her living room. She loved to tell the story about having ladies over for lunch, when they heard piano music in another room. They went in (to investigate), and the ladies were surprised to see Van playing her piano after dropping off a package. She loved that story,” Ledford recalls.