Feb. 14 is typically a day for flowers and candy, but add a singing valentine and you’ve got the Missouri Southern Chamber Choir’s way of celebrating the holiday.

More than 35 sing-o-grams were delivered to surprised recipients throughout Joplin, Carthage and even as far away as Baxter Springs by the Chamber Choir, in such venues as schools, businesses, hospitals, nursing homes and even a few personal home visits.

The women performed “Mister Sandman” while the men sang “If I Had My Way.”

Song choices were picked out before Christmas break by Dr. Bud Clark, head of the music department, which were then practiced up until Valentine’s Day.

Two weeks prior to the performances, the choir appeared on morning television shows to get the word out and phone calls were later pouring in with requests.

The day was filled with a variety of reactions from the recipients.

While at The Chocolate Factory, the women performed to the lone male working by request from his female coworkers, which brought him to tears.

The men chose to ham up their performances by taking the opportunity to croon and embarrass the lady in which they were serenading.

Some recipients were upset or embarrassed about haven been chosen to be sung to and the choir was then denied their performance, but for the most part, the requests were welcomed with opened arms.

“One particular performance stood out in my mind,” said Ben Horine, junior theater major. “We sang for an elderly woman who was so overwhelmed, she began to cry. She said, ‘I couldn’t have imagined a nicer thing for Valentine’s Day.'”

All in all, the members said the day felt like a success, with the feeling they were able to really touch those persons they performed for.

“I hope they got a lot of joy out of [the singing valentine’s],” said Katie Wooldridge, junior music major. “Someone loved them so much to send them not just roses and chocolates, but a whole group of people to sing to them.”