Celebration Singers Present Free Concert at Paramount Theater
By: Press Release
Updated: December 4, 2012
Celebration Singers, Abilene's premier adult show choir, will present its 15th Annual Holiday Concert at the Paramount Theatre on Tuesday, December 4, at 7:30 p.m. and admission is free to the public.
"'Sing of Christmas' is the theme of our annual holiday concert on December 4," said Betty Ann Blackburn, Director of the chorus. "Our program this year will feature a repertoire of classic holiday favorites and a sacred Christmas cantata, "The Voices of Christmas," published in 2004 by Composer Joseph Martin. "This wonderful music beautifully blends our voices together to celebrate the birth of Christ," she said. "This is the first time we have performed a full cantata or major composition during our holiday concert," she said.
Lora Lynn Christensen, president of Celebration Singers, said, "Although our group sings locally during the year at a number of civic and public events, we consider this concert to be our special gift to the Greater Abilene community at the start of the Holiday Season. Since early September, we have been rehearsing weekly to make this December 4 concert a wonderful and memorable evening for our local friends and neighbors," Ms. Christensen said. "We hope everyone in our community will join us for this special holiday concert."
"In addition, Celebration Singers are performing at the annual "Abilene City Sidewalks" holiday kick-off in the downtown business district on Tuesday, November 27, helping to officially open the holiday season in Abilene, from 6 to 8:00 p.m.," said Ms. Blackburn.
Other music to be performed at the December 4 concert is from a selection of traditional and contemporary American composers and arrangers, including Irving Berlin, Felix Bernard, Jay Rouse, Greg Gilpin, Wesley Whatley, Andy Beck, and Douglas Wagner. The 2012 show features the full 45-member choir, as well as a number of small group ensembles.
Throughout the year, the group also performs at Dyess AFB for its annual Prayer Luncheon for all religious faiths, and at the Abilene Zoo, among other venues.
Dr. Larry McGraw of Hardin-Simmons University will serve as Master of Ceremonies at the concert. Although admission is free, contributions will be welcomed at the close of the show to help with production costs, theatre rental, and music-use rights.
"'Sing of Christmas' is the theme of our annual holiday concert on December 4," said Betty Ann Blackburn, Director of the chorus. "Our program this year will feature a repertoire of classic holiday favorites and a sacred Christmas cantata, "The Voices of Christmas," published in 2004 by Composer Joseph Martin. "This wonderful music beautifully blends our voices together to celebrate the birth of Christ," she said. "This is the first time we have performed a full cantata or major composition during our holiday concert," she said.
Lora Lynn Christensen, president of Celebration Singers, said, "Although our group sings locally during the year at a number of civic and public events, we consider this concert to be our special gift to the Greater Abilene community at the start of the Holiday Season. Since early September, we have been rehearsing weekly to make this December 4 concert a wonderful and memorable evening for our local friends and neighbors," Ms. Christensen said. "We hope everyone in our community will join us for this special holiday concert."
"In addition, Celebration Singers are performing at the annual "Abilene City Sidewalks" holiday kick-off in the downtown business district on Tuesday, November 27, helping to officially open the holiday season in Abilene, from 6 to 8:00 p.m.," said Ms. Blackburn.
Other music to be performed at the December 4 concert is from a selection of traditional and contemporary American composers and arrangers, including Irving Berlin, Felix Bernard, Jay Rouse, Greg Gilpin, Wesley Whatley, Andy Beck, and Douglas Wagner. The 2012 show features the full 45-member choir, as well as a number of small group ensembles.
Throughout the year, the group also performs at Dyess AFB for its annual Prayer Luncheon for all religious faiths, and at the Abilene Zoo, among other venues.
Dr. Larry McGraw of Hardin-Simmons University will serve as Master of Ceremonies at the concert. Although admission is free, contributions will be welcomed at the close of the show to help with production costs, theatre rental, and music-use rights.
