Opinion

Concert something to sing about

Friday, December 5, 2008

I've noticed something during rehearsals for the McCook Community Choir's annual Christmas concert: the choir loft at the McCook Methodist Church is awfully crowded. But that's the only thing remotely "awful" about it.

There are 30-plus of us, standing shoulder to shoulder, four rows deep. This is no place for the claustrophobic or the socially anxious, especially where I stand in this sea of humanity. (Okay, maybe an accumulation of thirty-plus people doesn't qualify it as a sea, or even a lake, for that matter -- but calling it "a moderately-sized pond of humanity" doesn't paint quite the same word picture, does it?)

We've been together for a few months now, meeting on Sunday afternoons for about ninety minutes at a time, readying the music for the show we're going to be putting on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 4 p.m.

I'm virtually smack-dab in the middle of a talented group of vocalists -- basses behind me, sopranos to the left, altos to the right. And tenors, of which I am one, all around. At the risk of sounding boastful, I think we sound pretty dad-gummed good: our sound is balanced, our vocals are strong.

There's little-to-no milling about during rehearsals; it helps when you have no room to wander. Our rehearsal meandering is mostly verbal -- pack smart, funny, creative people together like King Oscar sardines (and hold the oil), and watch what happens between songs.

But when it's time to sing, the jokes take a powder. We're all business when it comes to the music. Some of it is classic, some of it is modern, and while I'm sure we all have one or two personal favorites among the selections, nobody takes a song off. We're giving it our all, and I really think that the audience will see and hear the effort, and also how much fun we, as a group, have had bringing the concert to you.

Also performing with us will be Central Connection, the fifth and sixth grade singing group from Central Elementary. They'll kick off the concert with a few numbers that they've been working on, and I think everyone in attendance (including thos e in the adult choir) will be in for a tremendous musical treat.

I've been lucky enough to participate in a few different community programs, and the one thing I've noticed, across the board, is the quality of these shows. The level of talent, and the amount of dedication from the performers, is consistently high -- plus it's a chance to see your friends and neighbors performing for you -- and I think that's why these programs continue to be a popular draw.

During the hustle and bustle of the holidays, between shopping and cooking and decorating and all the other things that spring up to crowd the schedule this time of the year, it's easy to forget to take a little time for yourself. I've always felt that music is a great way to refresh and recalibrate your spirit, and perhaps the best way to experience some of your holiday favorites is live and in person -- away from all the distractions of the season.

So take an hour or two off from your holiday labors and enjoy the McCook Area Community Choir's Christmas concert at McCook's Methodist Church on Sunday -- I'm willing to bet that you'll be glad you did.

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