The Northeast Piedmont Chorale will perform a free concert Saturday evening at McGregor Hall.
The 72-member choir will perform selections that reflect the concert theme, “Rejoice,” and Director Cindy Edwards said it’s a joy to be able to bring the story of Christmas through music.
Chorale President Judy Miller told John C. Rose on Tuesday’s TownTalk that she hopes concert-goers leave “feeling a special energy, rejoicing with us and enjoy the holiday season.”
Edwards and chorale baritone Tom Burleson joined Miller to talk about the upcoming performance, which begins at 7:30 p.m.
The spring concert almost filled the 1,000-seat performing arts center, which Miller said was among the largest audiences in the history of the chorale.
“It was just wonderful,” she said.
Many of the chorale members participate in their church choirs, but the pandemic really quashed singing – especially in congregational settings. Singing in a group setting was shut down to prevent spread of COVID-19, so the chorale is especially grateful to be able to perform on stage once again.
“Not only do musicians want to sing,” said Edwards, “but audiences want to hear” the music.
Among the selections that will be performed include a “very percussive” piece sung in Latin a cappella with handbell accompanists, an arrangement from “Ceremony of Carols,” as well as “Can You See The Star,” an original composition by chorale member and internationally acclaimed choral instructor Sally Albrecht.
Albrecht will be directing that selection, Miller said. “It will be so much fun to sing with the person who wrote the song,” she said.
Other selections include a Swahili adaptation of the Lord’s Prayer, with a guest soloist, as well as arrangements of traditional carols including “Little Drummer Boy,” “Deck the Halls” and “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.”
Edwards said the chorale will be accompanied by a 16-piece orchestra and a guest harpist that “put the icing on the cake. Strings, brass, percussion, harp and woodwinds makes it just beautiful,” she added.
To learn more, visit www.npchorale.org.
