Submitted by Monika Moulin
OAKHURST – Calling all singers! Lovers of Christmas music and choral singing are invited to join in the annual community Christmas choral concert, one of the most-anticipated and beloved holiday events in the Mountain Area.
For the fifth consecutive year, members of area church choirs and other local singers will come together for a beautiful Christmas program, with two performances at Oakhurst’s Sierra Vista Presbyterian Church, all with accompaniment from a live orchestra.
The performances are set for Sunday, Dec. 21, at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Past years’ presentations were mostly SRO, even one year when there was pouring-down, freezing rain.
Singers will need to attend the dress rehearsal planned for Wednesday, Dec.17, and may additionally take advantage of weekly pre-concert rehearsals at either Sierra Vista church or the New Community United Methodist Church in Oakhurst.
Interested singers should contact Cathy Walker, organist/choir director at Sierra Vista (559) 683-6742, or Monika Moulin, Director of Music at New Community church (559) 683-2652, to arrange to obtain music and other information.
This year’s concert will present composer Joel Raney’s “Love Came Down at Christmas: Celebrating God’s Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.”
The music publisher’s notes about the piece indicate that “Love is the central theme of Christmas. The incarnation story tells us that God so loved the world that he came to earth as a Baby, and that love is creatively illustrated in this compelling Christmas work. A rich tapestry of original and familiar melodies, diverse musical styles, accessible choral settings, and engaging accompaniment options combine to ensure a rich and meaningful Christmas worship experience.”
