 In 1999 the two chapters began to discuss the idea of merging and the merger was completed on January 1, 2000.The new chorus, now named the Sound of the Rockies, drafted a young director, Darin Drown, for its initial leadership.The chorus competed in its first Rocky Mountain District contest in the fall of 2000 in Rapid City, South Dakota, placing second, missing an invitation to the International competition merely by 5 points.