NRV Community Chorus to perform Christmas concerts Dec. 9-10
The New River Valley Community Choir will perform its annual Christmas concert in two performances Dec. 9-10. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Mathews
The New River Valley Community Chorus will present its annual Christmas Concert on Sunday, Dec. 9, at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Pulaski, and on Monday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church in Radford.
Singers from Pulaski, Dublin, Radford, Blacksburg and Christiansburg will perform under the direction of Lynn Loftus of Pulaski. Judith Lanum of Ironto will accompany the group on piano and organ.
Loftus spoke enthusiastically of the lineup of music for the concert.
“We have a very funny ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ that the audience will really enjoy,” she said. “Each day will be sung by an individual member of the choir. And between the verses, Bill Barksdale of Radford will be reading Julius Norwich’s hilarious narration of the 12 days.” Norwich’s narration records daily thank-you letters from a bewildered young woman to her unseen admirer.
The performance will highlight a variety of instrumentalists or soloists. “The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy,” a calypso number, will use steel drums and other percussion, provided on synthesizer by Alecia Stanley of Dublin. “Born Is Jesus, the Infant King” will include handbells played by Elaine Gehrz, Pam Kirkner and Greg Quesenberry. An acapella arrangement of “Round the Glory Manger” will feature soloist Tye Kirkner of Pulaski.
Loftus noted that the group will be singing a very difficult arrangement of “Joy to the World,” as well as “Oh, Lord God,” a piece written for eight parts and taken from the liturgy of the Russian Orthodox Church.
“The centerpieces of the concert are ‘Joy to the World’ and ‘God Rest you Merry Gentlemen,’” said Loftus. ”And we’ll sing ‘What Sweeter Music’ — the most beautiful Christmas song in the world, a favorite that we have done in the past.”
The concert is free, but donations are welcomed.
Singers interested in practicing and performing with the New River Valley Community Chorus may call 980-4135 for information. Practice for the next concert will begin in January.
– Submitted by Carolyn Mathews
No Comments »
No comments yet.
RSS feed for comments on this post.
