by the Rev. Mary Donovan
The Cunningham sisters grew up on a hog farm north of Gardner, Kansas. Being a large family, they described it as “Grand Central Station.” These seven Irish sisters have been singing together for approximately 16 years. And it all came together surprisingly. Vanessa, who is also one of the organists at Grace Episcopal Church in Ottawa, told the story of how the sisters started singing in public, “The Gardner Baptist Church had asked my sister Sondra to have special music. So, I thought we should surprise our mother and get all the sisters together to sing with Sondra. The Sunday Sondra was to sing all the sisters showed up. And we all proceeded up to the front with Sondra. My mother turned to my husband George and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘I think Sondra is getting help.’ And the rest is history.” The sisters feel that God has a purpose, along with a sense of humor.
All the women have a strong musical background. The older sisters were involved in the church choir and high school chorus. Their parents encouraged the younger three to participate in band and learn piano. Vanessa Marriot was always involved with music in church. A local organist Gardner was a music mentor for her growing up.
Vanessa shared another memory of one of the group’s first public performances. She called each sister to organize and surprise their mother. Each sister was enthusiastic and on board. Rhonda wanted to make sure she wouldn’t have to sing a solo. The sisters laughed and reassured her. The concert was another success. Although now the women live all over the state of Kansas, they get together when they can to sing.
The Cunningham Sisters recently performed at Grace, Ottawa on St. Patrick’s Day, sharing special music during the prelude, offertory, and postlude with songs like When all get to Heaven, It is well with my soul, and When Irish eyes are smiling. The congregation looks forward to the next time the Cunningham sisters gather to sing.
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