x
  1. Home
  2.  Entertainment

Christmas Concerts celebrate holiday magic

| 19 Dec 2016 | 03:10
    The Community Choral Society gets the audience in the holiday mood.
    The Community Choral Society gets the audience in the holiday mood.
    A simple message at the Vernon United Methodist Church defines the holiday season.
    A simple message at the Vernon United Methodist Church defines the holiday season.
    The newly reformed bell choir included the young and the more mature.
    The newly reformed bell choir included the young and the more mature.
    Soloist Alicia Cruz sings þÄúMary, Did You Know.þÄù
    Soloist Alicia Cruz sings þÄúMary, Did You Know.þÄù

VERNON — Wrapping gifts, writing cards, planning family gatherings, baking, cooking, decorating and the list extends, encompassing the Christmas holiday season. A help in balancing this special season is the traditional community holiday concert.
A calming, relaxing oasis, holiday concerts blend the familiar with the nostalgic and assist in bringing the season full circle.
Area community, church, school concerts and choirs are in full performance these last weeks before Christmas. The Children’s Chorus of Sussex County, The Harmonium Choral Society and No Strings A Cappella to name a few, all performed this holiday season.
Two holiday concerts highlighted are the Season of Love Annual Christmas Concert at the Vernon United Methodist Church and Festive Noel performed by the Community Choral Society of Vernon. The Season of Love concert’s host Jeff Kotkin advised the audience to “stop, relax and enjoy the fellowship of the season.” The first presentation of the Season of Love concert, “Nothin’ Without Love” perfectly reflected the concert’s theme. The Christmas Hallelujah sung by Ken Straub told the story of the Nativity. Pastor Eunice Vega-Perez and church members were extremely proud of this year’s newly reformed Vernon Bell Choir which expertly and beautifully joined in several selections. The finale featured “Have Yourself a Merry, Little Christmas” by 10-year-old saxophonist Ian Rovner.
Sixteen Community Choral Society members under the direction of Joseph Piccirillo varied standards of Christmas selections from classical to modern. “Festive Noel”, a song written by Victor C. Johnson, specified a line- “Earth be void of sadness.” “Adiemus”, by Karl Jenkins, replicated a winter storm with the society’s voices and percussionist Timothy Leonard. Musical director Piccirillo included the song “Somewhere in My Memory”, saying it was his favorite Christmas selection. The song was featured in the movie Home Alone.
After a festive sing- along, choral society President Janet Morrison thanked the audience, the Glenwood Baptist Church, piano accompanist Eleanore O’ Mara and the beautiful venue.