Emo choir set to start 11th year

Dave Ogilvie

Although the Emo Centennial Choir was formed 11 years ago, its longtime members are eager to start practising for their annual Christmas concert.
Under the direction of Renée Martin-Brown, and with accompaniment from Lisa Vos, the choir will begin rehearsals on Monday, Sept. 28 at the Christian Reformed Church in Emo.
Registration will begin at 6:30 p.m., with a practice to follow at 7.
The cost of joining the choir is $25, which covers the purchase of the music, which members are allowed to keep.
The rehearsals will run each Monday for one-and-a-half to two hours until the concert, which tentatively is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 14.
“We’ve had a steady group of about 20 dedicated singers since we formed the choir,” noted Martin. “But we’re always looking for new members, especially in our bass and tenor sections.
“It’s often tough to get the guys to join our group,” she admitted. “But we’re hoping some of the men, who have received personal invitations, will give it a try.”
Membership in the choir is open to singers of all ages. Younger members certainly are welcome, as long as they can read the words.
If you enjoy singing and appreciate the joy that comes from singing Christmas music, then the choir would like you to seriously consider joining.
Singing together in harmony is fun, healthy, and benefits the community. Music brings people together and crosses all kinds of barriers.
The longtime members of the Emo Centennial Choir obviously enjoy the musical experience of learning new pieces, working together, and contributing to Advent in the district.
This year’s selection of pieces include the traditional melodies, “I Saw Three Ships” (with flute), “In the Bleak Midwinter,” and “Emmanuel, Expected Jesus” with “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (with cello), as well as a variety of pieces, including “God’s Delight at Bethlehem,” “Christmas Gift,” “Shepherd, Do You Sleep?” “On that Night in Bethlehem,” and “Advent Grace.”
The choir also will perform a special a capella, Calypso piece entitled “Bethlehem, Bethlehem.”
Martin-Brown, Vos, and the entire choir would like to make this their best Christmas concert ever, but they can’t do it without the participation of people from across the area who love to sing.
Be sure to mark Sept. 28 on your calendar and plan to attend the Emo Centennial Choir’s first rehearsal.