Linda Bolding

Linda Bolding

By JJ Velasquez Friday, 03 April 2009

Just about a month before Linda Bolding’s retirement from director of the Round Rock Community Choir for nearly 25 years, Round Rock Mayor Alan McGraw declared March 26, 2009, Dr. Linda Bolding Day as a gesture of thanks for her significant cultural impact on the community.

Bolding founded the community choir in 1985 and since then has grown the organization to more than 100 members, several of whom demonstrated their love and respect outside city hall after the mayor read the proclamation. A group of male choir members hoisted Bolding up on their shoulders in celebration of the day.

“They’re an amazing choir,” she said. “It’s been an amazing journey, and I’ve loved every moment of it.”

Bolding moved to Round Rock in 1977 and later earned a master’s degree in choral conducting from the University of Texas. Though choral music was a hobby for Bolding since fourth grade when a teacher first discovered her natural ability, it wasn’t until coming to Round Rock that she began a career in music.

Bolding directed the choir at Central Baptist Church for six years before she became the Round Rock High School Choir Director. Years after building a solid program there — and a name for herself — Pflugerville High School Principal Larry Bradley recruited Bolding to build a program at his school, too.

“I told him [Bradley] that my career was going in a different direction, but then I saw what was then the new Fine Arts Center at Pflugerville High School, and I had never had a stage like that before,” Bolding said.

Bolding did eventually move on to the other route her career was headed and was principal at Spring Hill Elementary for several years before leaving to direct the community choir full time.

When Bolding held the first auditions for the Round Rock Community Choir, she said she expected 30 or 40 people to show up, but 180 came. Since then, the choir’s performances have drawn audiences to Round Rock from all over Texas. Bolding has also directed the choir in performances around the world and performed for former Texas governor and U.S. President George W. Bush.

After Bolding’s last performance as director of the choir at the annual stage production in May, she will to pass the baton of directorship to her daughter, Randi Bolding, who was selected by the board of directors. Randi was 4 years old when the choir started and started singing in it when she was a freshman in high school. She is now the director of the Stony Point High School Choir.

Bolding said she plans to spend her retirement seeking funding for the arts.

“But first, maybe I’ll rest … or maybe even eat supper,” she said, laughing.

A lifetime of achievements

The following achievements were noted in the proclamation read by the Round Rock mayor designating March 26, 2009, Dr. Linda Bolding Day:

• Founded and directed the Round Rock Community Choir for 24 years, growing the organization to more than 100 members and directing the choir in concerts all over the world, such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy
• Represented Round Rock stateside at venues such as Carnegie Hall, The National Cathedral and performed for former Texas governor and U.S. President George W. Bush
• Directed the Round Rock High School Choir
• Directed the Pflugerville High School Choir
• Helped in the passage of bonds to build the Round Rock ISD Performing Arts Center at McNeil High School

Final performance

Bolding’s last performance as director of the Round Rock Community Choir is the organization’s annual variety show, “Swanee.”

• April 30 & May 1
• Shoreline Christian Center, 15201 Burnet Road, Austin • 7:30 p.m.
• $15 adults, $12 seniors (55 and older)
• Children 18 and under are free
• Tickets available online and at the door, www.rrcconline.org