25 November 2007
BERKELEY SPRINGS CHOIRS TO PRESENT “TRADITIONS AND CAROLS”
BERKELEY SPRINGS CHOIRS TO PRESENT “TRADITIONS AND CAROLS”
BERKELEY SPRINGS, West Va., Nov. 27, 2007 -- The Living Springs Chorale, a 35-voice ensemble under the direction of Lydia Walker and sponsored by The Community Choir, Inc., will present a celebration of Christmas “Traditions and Carols,” on Saturday, December 8, 7 pm at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and Sunday, December 9, 3 pm at Union Chapel United Methodist Church. Both venues are located on Route 522 south of Berkeley Springs.
The Living Springs Chorale, accompanied by Rose Ann Glover on keyboard, will perform an assortment of traditional English, American and French Christmas music, as well as a selection of more whimsical offerings, such as “Christmas Time Is Here” from the “Charlie Brown Christmas Special,” and “Merry Christmas, Mozart,” a medley of familiar carols set to Mozart’s music. “Our program is designed to tell the story of the miracle of Christmas,” says Lydia Walker. “The music we’ve selected conveys the joys of the season and sets the stage for sharing the ‘glad tidings’ beyond the concert hall.”
Both concerts are open to the public and free of charge.
Sleepy Creek Children’s Choir to Perform
The Living Springs Chorale will be joined onstage by the Sleepy Creek Children’s Choir, a 24-voice children and youth chorale under the direction of Denise Cline. The choir will present a medley of familiar and well-loved Christmas carols, as well as a traditional Canadian carol and a contemporary piece, “Prayer of the Children,” accompanied by the Seventh-day Adventist Handbell Choir. The Sleepy Creek Children’s Choir will join the Living Springs Chorale to perform several selections throughout the program. “The kids are very excited about this program,” says Denise Cline. “They really enjoy performing in front of an audience and love the music they are learning in preparation for their concerts.”
The Sleepy Creek Children’s Choir was formed as a community outreach effort to encourage the development of young singers and instrumentalists in the classical performing arts. In addition to developing vocal skills, weekly rehearsals focus on music appreciation, discipline, teamwork and service to the community. Now in their second year, the choir has tripled in size beyond the original eight members. The Sleepy Creek Children’s Choir recently appeared on the program for the Celtic Heritage Festival at the Berkeley Springs Presbyterian Church, where they performed “Mountain Dance.” In November, the choir participated in the Berkeley Springs McDonald’s “Spirit Night” program where their activities and performances raised more than $125. In addition to their scheduled concerts, the Sleepy Creek Children’s Choir will join the Girl Scouts for an evening of Christmas caroling in Berkeley Springs as part of the First Night Celebration in town on December 7.
Local Guest Musicians to Accompany Choirs
An instrumental ensemble of local musicians will accompany the choirs during the “Traditions and Carols” programs. Guest instrumentalists include the Seventh-day Adventist Church Handbell Choir; Linda Whitesitt, Heather Worley, James Worley, Nathan Worley, Carrie Hann and Alexander Marte, violin; Laura Chaskes and Laurel Worley, cello; Anne Helmick, flute; Bennett Lentczner, trumpet; Dia Griffiths, penny whistle; and Ian Helmick, percussion. “We are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to perform with these very talented local instrumentalists,” says Lydia Walker. “On behalf of these artists, the Living Springs Chorale and the Sleepy Creek Children’s Choir, we invite our neighbors to make these concerts a part of their family’s annual holiday tradition.”
About The Community Choir, Inc.
The Community Choir, Inc. was founded as an ecumenical and interfaith organization to bring together area musicians who enjoy singing sacred and secular music. The Community Choir sponsors the Living Springs Chorale, a mixed voice ensemble of more than 35 area men and women, as well as the Sleepy Creek Children’s Choir, a 24-member chorus of area children ages 5 – 12. Reorganized in 2002, The Community Choir, Inc. is an incorporated 501(c) 3 non-profit organization.
BERKELEY SPRINGS, West Va., Nov. 27, 2007 -- The Living Springs Chorale, a 35-voice ensemble under the direction of Lydia Walker and sponsored by The Community Choir, Inc., will present a celebration of Christmas “Traditions and Carols,” on Saturday, December 8, 7 pm at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and Sunday, December 9, 3 pm at Union Chapel United Methodist Church. Both venues are located on Route 522 south of Berkeley Springs.
The Living Springs Chorale, accompanied by Rose Ann Glover on keyboard, will perform an assortment of traditional English, American and French Christmas music, as well as a selection of more whimsical offerings, such as “Christmas Time Is Here” from the “Charlie Brown Christmas Special,” and “Merry Christmas, Mozart,” a medley of familiar carols set to Mozart’s music. “Our program is designed to tell the story of the miracle of Christmas,” says Lydia Walker. “The music we’ve selected conveys the joys of the season and sets the stage for sharing the ‘glad tidings’ beyond the concert hall.”
Both concerts are open to the public and free of charge.
Sleepy Creek Children’s Choir to Perform
The Living Springs Chorale will be joined onstage by the Sleepy Creek Children’s Choir, a 24-voice children and youth chorale under the direction of Denise Cline. The choir will present a medley of familiar and well-loved Christmas carols, as well as a traditional Canadian carol and a contemporary piece, “Prayer of the Children,” accompanied by the Seventh-day Adventist Handbell Choir. The Sleepy Creek Children’s Choir will join the Living Springs Chorale to perform several selections throughout the program. “The kids are very excited about this program,” says Denise Cline. “They really enjoy performing in front of an audience and love the music they are learning in preparation for their concerts.”
The Sleepy Creek Children’s Choir was formed as a community outreach effort to encourage the development of young singers and instrumentalists in the classical performing arts. In addition to developing vocal skills, weekly rehearsals focus on music appreciation, discipline, teamwork and service to the community. Now in their second year, the choir has tripled in size beyond the original eight members. The Sleepy Creek Children’s Choir recently appeared on the program for the Celtic Heritage Festival at the Berkeley Springs Presbyterian Church, where they performed “Mountain Dance.” In November, the choir participated in the Berkeley Springs McDonald’s “Spirit Night” program where their activities and performances raised more than $125. In addition to their scheduled concerts, the Sleepy Creek Children’s Choir will join the Girl Scouts for an evening of Christmas caroling in Berkeley Springs as part of the First Night Celebration in town on December 7.
Local Guest Musicians to Accompany Choirs
An instrumental ensemble of local musicians will accompany the choirs during the “Traditions and Carols” programs. Guest instrumentalists include the Seventh-day Adventist Church Handbell Choir; Linda Whitesitt, Heather Worley, James Worley, Nathan Worley, Carrie Hann and Alexander Marte, violin; Laura Chaskes and Laurel Worley, cello; Anne Helmick, flute; Bennett Lentczner, trumpet; Dia Griffiths, penny whistle; and Ian Helmick, percussion. “We are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to perform with these very talented local instrumentalists,” says Lydia Walker. “On behalf of these artists, the Living Springs Chorale and the Sleepy Creek Children’s Choir, we invite our neighbors to make these concerts a part of their family’s annual holiday tradition.”
About The Community Choir, Inc.
The Community Choir, Inc. was founded as an ecumenical and interfaith organization to bring together area musicians who enjoy singing sacred and secular music. The Community Choir sponsors the Living Springs Chorale, a mixed voice ensemble of more than 35 area men and women, as well as the Sleepy Creek Children’s Choir, a 24-member chorus of area children ages 5 – 12. Reorganized in 2002, The Community Choir, Inc. is an incorporated 501(c) 3 non-profit organization.