Singing Valentine program a fundraiser with heart
Racing City Chorus offering surprise serenades
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Cards, flowers and chocolate have all come to be expected on Valentine’s Day — but a surprise serenade from the The Racing City Chorus is something extra special.
Longtime local singing group The Racing City Chorus is once again offering its Singing Valentine program, a fundraiser for the Saratoga Springs-based nonprofit.
Lovebirds can order their sweetheart a Singing Valentine from a barbershop quartet, comprised of Racing City Chorus members, who will visit the recipient anywhere in the Capital Region.
Whether it’s delivering a pleasant surprise at the office, cheering up a hospital patient, adding ambiance to a romantic walk in the park, or assisting in a marriage proposal — The Racing City Chorus is happy to provide its services this Valentine’s Day.
The Singing Valentine program serves as a major annual fundraiser for the group, which performs year-round throughout the greater community.
This year, customers have four different packages they can choose for their loved one. The standard SweetHeart package, at $49.95, comes with the performance of two love songs sung by a tuxedo- clad barbershop quartet, a Valentine card with a personal message, one longstemmed rose from The Posie Peddler and a chocolate sampler from Park Avenue Confectionary.
Larger packages, with more roses and/or more chocolate, are available as well.
The singing Valentines can be delivered on either Feb. 13 or Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day.
“It’s very satisfying as a member of the chorus to see what goodwill and happiness we can bring at Valentine’s Day with the help of not only our singing, but also those who support us like The Posie Peddler and Park Avenue Confectionary,” said program founder Jerry Crouth. “It’s just a nice, warmfeeling in a very cold time of the year, when we can really bring some happiness.”
Songs like “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” “Heart of My
Heart,” “My Wild Irish Rose” and “Love Me Tender” are typically sung during the Valentine’s Day visits
The four quartets usually deliver more than 100 Singing Valentines each year, to many different locations as far away as Glens Falls and Albany.
Some of Crouth’s personal favorite places to go are schools, where the children are enamored by the barbershop music, and offices, where an audience typically crowds around the employee being serenaded, as well as singing to the elderly, who are always big fans.
Lou Fisher, another program organizer, said the best part is seeing the expression on a lady’s face when she receives her surprise Singing Valentine.
“It’s one of the most unique gifts that you can give on Valentine’s Day,” Crouth said, adding that it will be remembered much longer than other presents. “It’s very personal.”
Singing Valentines can be ordered by calling 518504-SING (7464).
More information about The Racing City Chorus and this program is available online at racingcitychorus. org or www.facebook.com/ RacingCityChorus.