Singing its swan song

Longtime Glendale Community Concerts patrons attended their second to last performance Sunday at Glendale High School, where an announcement was made that the organization would be calling it quits after more than 50 years’ worth of concerts.

For the last 55 years, Glendale Community Concerts, a volunteer, nonprofit organization, has been bringing a variety of music and performing arts programs to the community, but because of dwindling membership and lack of funds, the group is folding, artistic director Bill Ferril said.

“The main reason is that the demographics have changed,” Ferril said, adding that the older generation of patrons are no longer capable of supporting the organization, while younger people are too busy with their careers and families that they don’t have the time to contribute to arts programs. “With changing demographics, that support isn’t here.”

On Sunday, music lovers turned out to hear the Gary Bonner Singers, a 60-member choral ensemble, perform an array of songs ranging from spirituals to folk.

The group performed American music, such as popular work songs, including “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.”

Audience favorites were the songs of the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s. Songs from “The Wizard of Oz,” including “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and “Ding-Dong! the Witch is Dead,” were especially big hits.

Burbank resident Herb Vincent attended the concert with members of his Burbank Noon Kiwanis Club.

“They’re wonderful, just marvelous,” Vincent said of the Bonner Singers. “I love the variety, songs of the ’30s and ’40s, that’s my era.”

But Vincent was not pleased with news that the Glendale Community Concerts would be folding.

“It’s very disappointing after 50-some years,” he said.

Concert-goer Eileen Jackson came from Fullerton to hear the music. Jackson, who is a member of the Fullerton Community Concerts, was sad when she learned about the end of the Glendale group.

“It’s devastating,” Jackson said. “This has been such a strong organization for so many years.”

Jackson attended most of the Glendale concerts, she said, adding that she preferred coming to Glendale because of the high quality of programs.

The last concert of the Glendale Community Concerts will be on May 4, Ferril said.

“It’s always been very wonderful,” said Margaret Gibbons, a Glendale resident. “I saw many things here that I couldn’t see anywhere else.”

 ANI AMIRKHANIAN is a news assistant. She may be reached at (818) 637-3230 or by e-mail at ani.amirkhanian@latimes.com.