Group preserving old-time music

The Joplin Globe

July 28, 2006 02:08 am

— By Rich Brown
rbrown@joplinglobe.com
COLUMBUS, Kan. - It's all about a musical heritage in Kansas, and Columbus is the latest to get on board.
A Columbus group recently became the 20th state chapter to join Kansas Oldtime Fiddlers, Pickers and Singers.
"The purpose of KOFPS is to promote, encourage and preserve old-time music and its related skills," said Diane Larsen, secretary of the Columbus chapter. "You need not be a musician or performer to join, as we need an audience as well as performers to preserve this heritage."
Some of the music genres under the KOFPS umbrella are old-time country, classic country, western, bluegrass, swing and gospel.
Among the 39 members in the Columbus chapter, 29 are musicians.
"Our members are from Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and California," Larsen said. "The talent in the area is amazing. All those who enjoy playing, singing and listening or dancing to such music are invited to attend."
The next performance will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, at the Columbus Community Building.
"Each chapter has a monthly meeting and program on a pre-designated day each month," Larsen said. "We also have a three-day state convention each year. The performing members compete at this convention to be judged on their ability to preserve the art forms of old-time music."
The annual conventions are usually held the last weekend in April. The 2006 convention was held at Iola with next year's event to be staged in DeSoto.
At the monthly meetings members can exhibit their skills by their performances and instruction to other musicians and the general public, Larsen said.
"In this way they pass on the old-time music as it has been passed down to them," she said. "At the same time, this provides entertainment for the non-performing members and the audience who appreciates these skills."
Interest in forming a Columbus chapter began with monthly meetings in February through April of this year.
"There have to be at least 10 musicians that are interested in performing at the monthly meeting before a chapter can be started," Larsen said. "These musicians cannot belong to another chapter. We also needed people interested enough to hold an office for the local chapter."
Officers voted in when the Columbus chapter began in April were Bill Little, president; Jim Hale, vice president; John White, treasurer; Larsen, secretary; Dana Dugger, master of ceremonies and state representative; Delbert Allen, alternate master of ceremonies; and Joe Ricker, alternate state representative.
The chapter voted to meet the first Sunday of each month with entertainment starting at 1:30 p.m. However, the September and October meetings will be skipped due to holidays and unavailability of the Columbus Community Building.
The closest chapter to Columbus is Fort Scott, which meets at 1 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month at the Senior Center, 26 N. Main St.
KOFP&S history
Kansas Oldtime Fiddlers, Pickers and Singers was founded in 1966. It is a non-profit entertainment and education corporation dedicated to promoting, encouraging, educating and preserving the enjoyment of the art form known as old-time music, which may be related to events or people and not necessarily related to a date in time. KOFP&S membership is open to all ages. There is no admission fee to the monthly meetings and guests are welcome to just listen or perform.
- Source: www.kofps.org

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