Hundreds pack Mission in SLO to honor beloved choir director with memorial sing-along
By Kaytlyn Leslie and
Laura Dickinson
Hundreds of people packed Mission San Luis Obispo on Saturday to take part in a memorial sing-along being held in honor of beloved San Luis Obispo choral director Gary Lamprecht.
Lamprecht died Wednesday, leaving behind a lasting legacy of music for thousands of students and local performers.
Lamprecht established the SLO Vocal Arts Ensemble in 1977, and as its musical director for the past 47 years, helped develop it into an internationally acclaimed choir that has performed around the world numerous times under his direction. He was also a longtime teacher with the San Luis Coastal Unified School District before his retirement in 2007.
The event Saturday went from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and was filled with more than 200 friends and supporters of Lamprecht.
A memorial sing-along was held on Feb. 24, 2024, at the Mission San Luis Obispo to honor longtime choir director Gary Lamprecht, who died on Wednesday. The Mission was packed with family and friends of the beloved musical director. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Melody Svennungsen, the choir’s musical director, encouraged attendees to sing along, and at times, even she was teary eyed.
There were some long hugs, tears and sadness throughout the event. One song, “Amazing Grace,” was a particular favorite among the attendees.
Dale Wolff, a long-time member of Vocal Art Ensemble, spoke at the beginning, citing Lamprecht’s joking nature and euphemisms like “squeeze the dimes” and “sing it again — but this time like it was actually written” to much laughter from the crowd.
Gary Lamprecht was a two-time winner of the Teacher of the Year for the San Luis Coastal Unified School District. Here, he rehearses a section of the San Luis High School Concert Choir on Nov. 14, 2001. He had numbered speakers lining the room and divided the music up into soprano, alto, bass, etc., so that each group could memorize their part before joining the group. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
“His specialty was to bring us into harmony,” Wolff said before the sing-along. “To help us blend with all kinds of other voices and create something better than any one of us could do.”
An optional gathering at Giuseppe’s bar and back patio followed the memorial.
Musical director Melody Svennungsen encourages the packed Mission San Luis Obispo to sing along at a special event on Feb. 24, 2024, to honor longtime choir director Gary Lamprecht, who died on Wednesday. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Melody Svennungsen, artistic director for the Central Coast Youth Chorus, leads a memorial sing-along at the Mission San Luis Obispo on Feb. 24, 2024, in honor of longtime choir director Gary Lamprecht, who died on Wednesday. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Victoria Lowrie, center, sings during the memorial event for Gary Lamprecht at the Mission San Luis Obispo on Feb. 24, 2024. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
A memorial sing-along was held on Feb. 24, 2024, at the Mission San Luis Obispo to honor longtime choir director Gary Lamprecht, who died on Wednesday. The choir received a resounding applause after the event with Melody Svennungsen front and center. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
This story was originally published February 25, 2024 at 12:43 PM.
Kaytlyn Leslie writes about business and development for The San Luis Obispo Tribune. Hailing from Nipomo, she also covers city governments and happenings in San Luis Obispo. She joined The Tribune in 2013 after graduating from Cal Poly with her journalism degree.
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