Ashe Choral Society Celebrates Christmas with Holiday Concert

By Joel Frady

The Ashe County Civic Center will ring with the sounds of Christmas tunes old and new this Sunday when the

Ashe County Choral Society holds their 23rd annual Holiday Concert. Performed by the 43 members of the society under the direction of Grady Lonon, the concert will feature such classics as Angels We Have Heard on High and Hark the Herald Angels Sings to contemporary selections like A Holly Jolly Christmas.

Society member Susanne Black said that concert preparation has been aided by the group's dedication.

"The fellowship of the group this year is as good as the fellowship is every year, and that's what makes the sound so nice," she said. "We blend well and we know each other - that just heightens the enjoyment for all of us. We all go to different churches, so we don't get to hear each other all the time until we get back here. I think that really makes it extremely special."

Black added that the song selection has something for everyone.

"Every year, it just seems to top the year before somehow," she said of the program. "There's stuff for the kids, there's stuff for people who are high-brows. It's a real eclectic group of music."

Mike Warren, a member of the society for eight years and a former church music director in Raleigh, agreed that the mix of songs keeps the concert fun.

"It's got a good variety of pieces," he said. "It's got some good classical pieces, and then it's got some contemporary pieces. It makes it fun to sing because you get to sing a lot of different styles - you're not singing the same kind of music continually."

Jane Lonon, executive director of the Ashe County Arts Council and a member of the choral society, said that the combination of director Grady Lonon and accompanist Michael Bell help guide the music.

"They're two very talented musicians working together to make a very professional ensemble," she said. She noted that the singers are from all walks of life - some are new to the chorus, while some have been members since the group formed in 1985 - but that "the end result is a very high-quality performance. It's a well-balanced group, with an appropriate number on each of the parts. Singing is one of those ultimate team sports where you work together for the common good. With 43 people coming together with the same work, and the end result is one piece."

But, according to Warren, the hard work is the result of the common goal every member has.

"This group just enjoys singing," he said. "You can feel it, that the people want to do well and have a great concert."

For the community, Jane Lonon said that the group "hopes that the concert kicks off the Christmas season for everyone that's listening and sets the tone for what the season is all about."

The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Ashe Civic Center. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students. To find out more or to purchase tickets, call the arts council at (336) 846-2787 or click to www.ashecountyarts.org.