Park City Treble Makers – Sisters in Song

Photo: Deb DeKoff, Park City Photographers // Park City Treble Makers

In 2011 a special group of women got together to sing, help their community, and reach out to people in need. Twelve Years later this group still exists, and with many of the founding members. 

Anne Collett, the group’s founder, enlisted Debra Cook to help select the talent and Shelle Jennings as director. 

From the start, the Park City Treble Makers were successful at partnering with local nonprofits and civic organizations. Their first performance was for the Park City Newcomers Club in 2011. 

Over the years, they have partnered with more than two dozen organizations, including the National Ability Center, the Park City Egyptian Theater, and the Park City Senior Center. Sometimes singing in freezing temperatures at a Bobsled World Cup, in a snowstorm at Canyons Resort, and spreading Christmas Cheer on Main Street in December. 

The Park City TrebleMakers are like a family. With a strict work schedule they have grown into a support network for each other. They enjoy the fellowship with other women. Renee Mox Hall says, “It recenters me.” Kristen Brown adds that she noticed at the previous rehearsal, “Even when I got corrected I left happy and uplifted. We rejoice together and mourn together.”

There are 17 members in the group with a conductor and four singers in each voice type. The Park City TrebleMakers are an audition-only group. Some members had to wait two to three years before a spot became available in their vocal range. “They are all great musicians. Extraordinary women who perform to the best of their ability,” says Colleen Earnshaw.

All members of the group are volunteers. They practice 90 minutes a week together and another two to three hours per week individually. This is a dedicated group of performers. They come from different backgrounds and professions, but they all realize that in an acapella group you have to trust everyone else to do their part, or the performance falls apart. They come from all walks of life, range in age from 40 to 70 years of age, and are politically diverse. As a group they have established a kind of counterculture, and have chosen to stay unified and accepting.

Colleen Earnshaw took over as director in 2017, having joined the Park City TrebleMakers in 2012 as a first soprano. She still steps in on occasion, to sing high notes with the group for certain songs. She has a music degree from BYU and says she enjoys, “Directing and finding the music. Something that is different.”

Renee says, “When Shelle Jennings announced that she was moving on, my heart sank to my feet.” Luckily, for the members of the singing group, Colleen announced at the same gathering that she had agreed to step into the director position.

Kristen Brown, a soprano, says, “If Colleen weren’t here, we would be like lost sheep”. 

The Covid-19 pandemic was a very challenging time for the Treble Makers since they were not able to rehearse. In the fall of 2021, everyone had to make a big decision for themselves about whether they wanted to come back to the group and start rehearsing again. Most did, and they made it through an entire season without anyone getting sick. 

Non-Christmas acapella music is hard to find, and the Treble Makers are not a democracy. Colleen chooses the music but she says “I take suggestions.” For the spring 2023 concert, a song from the PBS  show ‘Home Fires’ was suggested that Colleen said was, “haunting. And the tempo makes you anxious. It has tension.” Colleen spends considerable time finding the right acapella music for them and for their engagements. In addition to their work for non-profits, they have also been hired for weddings, memorial services, and company parties. 

The Park City Treble Makers want the public to know they can support their organization with their performances, regardless of where they may be. They love to support families as well, so when a local resident wants to bring joy to a family member in a Senior Citizen Center in Salt Lake City, they are happy to perform.

Unless the group they are performing for is a commercial organization, they do not charge for their performances. They do ask for donations for charities. They also like to lend a voice to other singing groups when needed.

With Covid having highlighted the need for mental, emotional, and spiritual support, the group has realized what a healthy place their women’s group of singing sisters is. In an effort to spread good vibes, they have been singing an increasing number of concerts for the Peace House. 

Colleen runs the Park City Treble Makers like a professional organization. Everyone is expected to come on time, have their parts ready and memorized, work during rehearsals, and leave on time. They do have a few socials, but they have discovered that when you harmonize with one another there is, “no room for competition, divas, or animosity.” 

As Colleen puts it, paraphrasing a well known quote, “When you are happy, it’s impossible to sing off-key.”