The Creswell at Home Community Choir showcased their mastery of a wide variety of music during their first public concert. MARTHA MCREYNOLDS, JR.
From African American spirituals to Broadway and from traditional to classical, Creswell at Home Community Choir featured multiple musical genres during their first public concert, held May 6 at Creswell Church of Christ.
”We had a very appreciative audience, and most importantly, the choir gave an outstanding performance and it showed on their faces,” said Choir Director Mary Ellen Yost.
The concert opened with a piano duet of Schubert’s ”Marche Militaire, Opus 51, No. 1” by Sue Bowers (primo) and Yost (secondo). That was followed by Schubert’s ”We Are the Choir”; the traditional ”Music Alone Shall Live”; ”Come Back to Sorrento”; the Rodgers and Hammerstein tune ”Oh, what a Beautiful Mornin’,” from ”Oklahoma”; ”All I Do Is Dream of You”; and Johnny Mercer’s ”Dream.”
The African American spiritual ”Down by the Riverside” was next, followed by Rodgers and Hart’s ”Blue Moon”; Irving Berlin’s ”Play a Simple Melody”; Merle Travis’ ”Sixteen Tons”; George M. Cohan’s ”You’re a Grand Old Flag” and Berlin’s ”God Bless America.”
The concert closed with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ”You’ll Never Walk Alone,” from ”Carousel.”
Choir members Paul Randall, Tracey Armitage, Rick Kelley, Mary Ann Howard and Joan Travis Kelley prepared mini-speeches to give about the music; Matthew Goes of Cottage Grove served as accompanist.
”It is a treat for me to work with such special people, and we have fun,” Yost said the Choir. ”Music is truly a wonderful way to connect with each other, and I feel that all the time at rehearsals and when I see choir members in town or anywhere.”
Choir rehearsals begin again on Sept. 12. All adults are welcome.
