Welcome to the web home of the
Mixed Nuts! Quartet
Blake, bass Linda, baritone Karen, tenor Rod, lead
In early 2020, with covid the main topic on most everyone’s mind, Linda Snedigar, Assistant Director for the local women’s chorus Dynamix and Rod Pfeifle, SOD chorus member, while waiting for a Shrine of Democracy spring show to start, and sitting on the loading dock ramp at the Performing Arts Center in Rapid City, started to discuss the possibility of a mixed quartet between members of the SOD chorus and the Dynamix chorus. With a let’s try this and see if we sound reasonable idea, wondering even if two guys and two girls could get along, the quartet came together. We knew we had power voices in Tenor Karen Williams and Bass Blake Benson; however, it was a challenge if Baritone Linda Snedigar and Lead Rod Pfeifle could put the rest of the sound together. This was the humble beginning of the group known as Mixed Nuts Acapella Quartet.
In acapella, the voices are usually arranged with the two high parts being the women, and the lower two parts being the men. We discovered our singers had a unique range of sound that allowed Rod to handle some significantly higher parts, and Linda to easily handle the lower notes. To say Mixed Nuts is traditional is definitely not accurate.
When it came time to choose a name for our newborn group, we floated numerous names among the group, and somehow always kept coming back to the name Mixed Nuts, not only because of the group being mixed with women and men, but because we discovered we truly liked each other. To say our personalities are unique is putting it mildly. When we rehearse in Rod's garage, we find we need to spend substantial time just sharing what has happened in our individual lives on a weekly basis. We like to debrief and unwind for the week.
Rod's garage is the usual rehearsal location for Mixed Nuts. The fire pit helps when it gets rather cold, and good weather provided, we open the garage doors and neighbors occasionally stop by, as well as neighborhood dogs, deer and turkeys checking to see if we are still on pitch.
The singers are:
Karen — Tenor, Karen’s able to do all the angelic way up there sparkly parts. Karen’s work related caffeine addiction symptoms can surface at any time so beware. Karen would love to be in a relationship however her cat (Sprinkles) has final approval. Karen is also a member of the local women’s chorus group The Dynamix.
Favorite saying: “Aww… That one makes me cry”
Linda — our baritone, Linda’s able to handle way cool high and low harmony parts. Linda is a cat and craft lover so much of her time is spent in therapy for those issues. In this group it is always be kind to baritones week. Linda is also assistant director of the local women’s chorus group The Dynamix.
Favorite saying: “Cracking the whip does nothing with this group”
Blake — Bass extraordinaire, Blake comes to us with a barbershop background; he handles way down low manly parts, is single and has his own teeth and hair. Blake is also a member of the Shrine of Democracy Chorus.
Favorite saying: “I hate that song”
Rod — Lead, Rod handles parts both high and low. He drives the bus and sweeps the floors. He believes hair is way overrated. Rod is also a member of the Shrine of Democracy Chorus.
Favorite saying “Does anyone need a beverage”
Performance at the 2023 Shrine of Democracy Chorus Show
Performance at the 2023 Shrine of Democracy Chorus Show
Performance at the 2023 Shrine of Democracy Chorus Show Afterglow
Performance at the 2022 Shrine of Democracy Chorus Show
Performance at the 2022 Shrine of Democracy Chorus Show Afterglow
Performance at the 2022 Shrine of Democracy Chorus Show Afterglow
Mixed Nuts! has no cd’s, no albums, no cassettes, or 8-tracks (how old do you think we are?).
PS: If you want to communicate with any member of the group just write your name on a twenty dollar bill and give it to Rod and he will see it gets to the casino, or rather, to whom you wish.
Mixed Nuts is available for weddings, funerals, birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, golf outings and basically parties of most any kind. For more information about our quartet, or booking information please contact us:
Email: Rod
Phone: Rod at (605) 646-2055