ARCHIE MOUNTAIN PHOTO
NEWPORT—Nearly 70 members of the Area Choir have been rehearsing weekly in anticipation of performing in the 66th annual Christmas Concert to be held at the South Congregational Church in Newport.
The schedule calls for three concerts to be presented starting with the opener at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7 and concerts at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Those who have attended any of the past concerts know what to expect from the choir directed by David Chaves with Billie Joyce Bell on piano and Beverly Caldon, organist.
The concerts last for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes and are filled with more than a dozen Christmas favorites along with time for the audience to join in singing several familiar Christmas carols.
The ecumenical choir of singers represent 21 area communities from both New Hampshire and Vermont. Their three performances have long been considered an annual gift to area communities.
In addition to the Area Choir, the South Congregational Church Earle Pollard Memorial Handbell Choir will also perform.
There is no admission charge at any of the three concerts although donations may be made through a free-will offering . The major business sponsor this year is LaValley Building Supply.
“Begin the Christmas season with this wonderful area tradition,” said Karen Koski Little, chairman of the executive board of nine members that oversees the choir and meets throughout the year.
Members of the choir receive reminders in the mail informing them that Sunday night rehearsals will be starting in early October. A dress rehearsal is planned on the Friday prior to the opening concert on Dec. 7.
A History of the Area Choir was published on its 40th Anniversary in 1993. That year was considered special as it marked the anniversary of its founding by Malcolm Rowell of Newport and Blanche Bailey of Sunapee.
Little did the founders imagine that a local workshop to give choirs more experience in choral selections of greater difficulty and broader access to music would evolve into the 100-voice choir of 1993.
In December of 1963 the choir gave its first Christmas concert at the South Congregational Church with 55 voices from seven area towns. Throughout the 60’s, the choir continued to gain and to prosper to present two concerts nearly every year, one on Palm Sunday and the other at Christmas.
By 1967, the First Baptist Church of New London, the Congregational Church of Meriden and the United Church of Warner had joined Newport area churches in the Combined Area Choir.
In December 1979, with about 116 singers, the Area Choir presented Vivaldi’s Gloria. The following year, a third concert was added—two on Sunday and one on Monday. In 1982 concerts switched to the present format, one performance on Saturday and two on Sunday.
The final paragraph in A History of The Area Choir in 1993 stated:
“And now, on this our 40th Anniversary, as we look with pride tour past and confidence in the future, we reaffirm our mission in song as we sing out the message of peace on earth and good will toward men.”
2019 Members of The Area Choir by Town
Andover—Kathy Ward
Claremont—Denise Follansbee, Ellen Graham, Priscilla R. Hull, Scott Magnuson, Richard Murgatroy, Karen Parker, Michelle Parker, Cherie Hall Ryan, Steve Wood
Croydon—Deborah Gardner
Enfield—William Chase, Marjorie Chase, Barbara J. Dow
Grantham—Susan Coakley, Sara Fogg, Rob Fogg
Hopkinton—Karen Brook
Lempster—Jack Caldon, Maggie Kemp, Patricia McCabe, Lucia Misa, Gardiner (Foot) Stetson
New London—Emerson Colby, Jonathan Fowler, William Pike, Brent E. Scudder, Cory Shomphe, Joanne Weatherson
Newbury—Connie Beal, Jordan J. Derderian, Jr., Nancee L. Leach, George L. West
Newport—Valerie F. Benoit, Daniel Cherry, Shoshana Cote, Diane M. Davis, Autumn Evans, Sandra Bodge Flint, Eugene Jannenga, Mary Jannenga, Darrell Jones, Karen Koski Little, Linda Luck, Shayna Malool, Laura Finke McCoy, Karol Michelle Page, Brian Power, Kelly K Rochford, Jaeda Rochford Hague, Kerry Rochford Hague, Larry Schissel
North Sutton—Maria Bishop, Bob Bishop
Plainfield—Barbara Docherty-Hendrick
Spofford—Linda Snorek
Springfield—Melissa Gaherty
Springfield, Vt.—Dyana Draper
Sunapee—Alan Bergeron, Cindy Chaves, Marilyn McLaughlin, Lucy Mueller
Sutton—Libby Howell
Swanzey—Linda Lane, Brad Lane
Unity—Judy Rastallis
West Unity—Larry Owen
Windsor, Vt.—Vanessa Wilson
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