By Jeff Walker
San Marcos — Singer Kelly Ferebee has quite a long history with Ron and Marie Jager.
She taught their daughter as choir director at Goodnight Junior High years ago. And then she played the lead role in “The Boy Friend,” which Marie directed, and came away impressing not just the Jagers, but a string of standing-room-only audiences.
And now, 30 years later, she’s coming back.
It’s this relationship that led to Ferebee’s return performance in San Marcos Nov. 29 at — where else — the Price Seniors Center, which the Jagers currently operate.
Ferebee will sing a variety of songs from all times and genres in concerts at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
“They’re both amazing people, that’s for sure,” Ferebee said earlier this week from her current residence in Dallas. “It seems like wherever Marie goes, she changes people’s lives.”
Ferebee was no exception. She was teaching choir at Goodnight in the mid 70s when she heard that Marie was preparing for “The Boy Friend.” She auditioned, even though she had never done anything in theatre before (she was a singer), and eventually Marie handed her the lead role.
“I remember she asked me if I knew how to tap dance. I said I didn’t but that I would be willing to learn. She (Marie) turned to the dance instructor next to her and asked if she would be able to teach me. So I learned,” Ferebee said. “And I’ve never been so sore in my life.”
Marie noticed Ferebee’s talent immediately.
“Her agility and movement on stage, her beautiful singing voice, I just figured she could capture the ambiance of that particular part,” Marie said.
After the performance, Ferebee eventually moved to Dallas, but the three stayed in contact regularly: Namely through Ferebee’s daughter Heather, who performed in the local production of “Babes in Arms,” which Marie directed in 1992.
But it wasn’t until the Jagers traveled to Kelly’s concert at Chapel in the Hills in Wimberley last year that a homecoming concert was mentioned. At the performance, Kelly sang everything from Gershwin to George Handel.
“Ron and Marie hadn’t really heard me sing that type of thing before,” Kelly said. “Afterwards, Marie asked me ‘would you consider doing this sort of thing again in San Marcos’ and I said sure.”
Ferebee was born in Perryton near Amarillo and her father was a choir director at the local high school. After moving to McCallen and graduating from there, she went to Texas Christian University and earned a music degree.
While the choir director at Goodnight and the Lamar campus, Ferebee’s students did a musical, “Rip Van Winkle,” and competed successfully in UIL competitions. She also started the Hill Country Boys Choir, which completed a North Texas area tour.
She then moved to Dallas and performed at concerts all over the metroplex, before earning a PHD in counseling from North Texas State University. Ferebee currently has a private practice in Coppell.
Ferebee’s Nov. 29 performance, titled “White Wigs to Feather Boas,” sums up the eclectic nature of her set. She will sing Handel, Broadway (”Cats” and “Sweeney Todd”), French Cabaret, standards and even a set of Christmas carols.
For more information call the Price Senior at 392-2900.
