Germanfest Singers preparing for festival

Practice Practice Practice makes Perfect! The Roberts Cove Germanfest Singers have been been tuning their notes and their German pronunciation in preparation for the 20th anniversary celebration of the Roberts Cove Germanfest scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, October 4 & 5. The group will perform each day at 1 :30 p.m. under the Big Tent on the St. Leo Church grounds in Roberts Cove. Come join the celebration.
When the more than 40 singers arrive for practice, they are not only from Roberts Cove and Acadia Parish, but from all areas of the state of Louisiana, including Lake Charles and Jennings, to Shreveport, Bunkie, Plaquemine, and Baton Rouge as well as the Lafayette area.
Bernadette Monlezun Ponton of Lake Charles serves as director with Josie Thevis of Roberts Cove as coordinator of the group. The group is privileged to have Anna Kormesser of Jennings to add special emphasis with her wonderful yodeling ability. Anna is a native of Germany. Simone Dubois of Crowley plays the piano accordion. The accordion has just been refurbished and amplified for greater effectiveness. It is interesting to note that the piano accordion was originally owned by Joe Kormesser, a native of Austria, Anna’s husband, who played it as long as he was able. Guitar players are Ted Jacques and his young grandson, both of Lafayette and Denise Leonards of Roberts Cove.
Each song practice begins with Maria zu lieben  a singing prayer to our Blessed Mother asking for her help and guidance in the singers’ activity.
The Germanfest singers have their origins years ago with the many October family reunions, with singing and musical instruments added to the celebrations by family members. It was always a joy to see the happiness, especially on the older men as they sang leaving their worry about the crops in the field behind them, for that day.