Ladies of Lee 60th Anniversary Celebration
With many exciting aspects of Lee University’s Homecoming 2025, Ladies of Lee, a vocal group on campus, has another reason for festivity. Founded in 1964, this all-female traveling ensemble is celebrating their 60th Anniversary with fellowship and a special concert Nov. 8 with alumnae members and directors.
Ladies of Lee 2025. Photo courtesy of Dr. Cameron Weatherford.
Celebrating this Ladies of Lee milestone has been talked about for a while, according to Sara Grace Pasko, alumni coordinator.
“Over a year, a year and a half, this has at least been on our minds. But since the beginning of last semester we started contacting our alumni, working on the dates and scheduling, trying to get information out, talking about how we want the feel and the flow of this event to go, who we want to be involved,” Pasko said.
Leadership is building these connections in the hopes that those they have reached out to will show up and participate.
“I'm really excited for them to meet these ladies that they've been engaging with,” Pasko said. “and really to be able to show the picture of Ladies as a whole because we have changed and we've developed and we've evolved so much in the 60 years.”
This method has proved to be enjoyable for members of the choir, as they have been able to preemptively get to know alumnae.
“It's been so fun to talk to the alumni and see how their Ladies experience was… I'm also super excited [to] meet them in person and talk [to them]...because it's just so different. 60 years, that’s a huge difference..it's been really exciting,” said Elizabeth Kirby, president of Ladies of Lee.
As their list of alumnae has grown over the decades, those in Ladies are quite hopeful for an excellent turnout. This attitude is shared all the way up the ladder, stemming from the excitement of their director.
Dr. Cameron Weatherford, director of Ladies of Lee urges the participation of the alumni, “I just want to see a lot of people there. The logistics are the easy part at this point. Now…we just want a lot of people…that's what it's about.”
With a weekend of events for those who are willing to take part in their homecoming festivities, Weatherford is looking forward to the interactions and fellowship more than anything.
“The music's kind of secondary. Just standing on that stage again next to people they were here with 40 years ago or 10 years ago or last year…that's all that matters, that they get a chance to do it again,” Weatherford said.
He doubles down on this by saying what he is anticipating the most is the Ladies of Lee 60th Anniversary breakfast, early Saturday morning, Nov. 8.
“I think I'm probably most looking forward to that…the brunch. I want to hear from the former members and directors and look at old pictures,” said Weatherford. “I just want to float around that weekend and just take it in.”
Weatherford took on the title of director in the fall of 2022. He praises the group he was given.
“I'd say most of [their excellence is] attributed to the good leadership in the past…there's so many quality leaders that have kept it at that place,” Weatherford said.
This level of excellence continues through Weatherford, according to Ladies of Lee Alumna, Jill Reynolds.
“But with Ladies of Lee, it's always been that way. When I came in, that's how it was [and] when I left, that's how it was. Those are the traditions even Dr. Weatherford keeps because he knows they're so important,” Reynolds said.
Pasko seconds this sentiment, “[Weatherford] leads so professionally but also he is really the one who emphasizes that the heart of the group is the relationships that we build with one another.”
Weatherford attributes this to the members of Ladies rather than to himself, “It's a healthy, warm, exciting, vibrant culture amongst the group and that was [already] in place and in very good shape. So for me it was just about walking in and just letting that continue.”
This time of celebration and reflection will balance looking back and looking forward for the ensemble, and for all those who are associated with it.
“We originally started out as Lee Women and then became the Ladies of Lee. And there have been so many changes culturally and musically. I'm really excited for our girls to put that whole picture together, and I'm really hoping that relationships are made and that friendships are made…Ladies is focused on unity, so I'm excited to bring that unity from a whole group together,” Pasko said.
As Ladies continues, looking past their 60th anniversary, Weatherford hopes for growth in the ministry the ensemble takes part in. He has a vision for expanding the reach in churches and events as they continue to travel.
“It's a passion of mine to see them involved in more. We do a lot of high school [visits] on tour for recruitment purposes and I know they can resonate in those spaces,” Weatherford said. “Last year we sang in a couple conferences which was a big deal because you had to audition for those and get selected, and that's great not just for Ladies but for Lee.”
Weatherford continues, “I want to see them doing what they do in their style, their worship, their thing, in high schools where kids need to see girls up there worshiping to a piece of classical music.”
Ladies of Lee, being the singular female-only ensemble at Lee, finds their differentiation from others in the very essence of what they are and what they represent.
“I guess in a more specific way, what makes Ladies different from everyone else…we are the most affirming and communal choir, I believe because we're all women,” Reynolds said.
Join the celebration of Ladies momentous year this homecoming season. For alumnae, this includes a dessert reception in the School of Business lobby, Friday, Nov. 7 at 8:45 p.m.; a breakfast at 9 a.m. on Nov. 8 in the DeVos Recreation Center; and the anniversary concert at 6 p.m. in the Pangle Hall that same day to wrap up the festivities. For those that simply wish to revel in this moment with them, the concert is open to an audience.
