By Brad Gischia
Beacon Correspondent
It’s time to start checking off your holiday list, especially now that Thanksgiving is behind us and the green and red behemoth of Christmas looms.
During the hustle and bustle of shopping, meals, parties and end-of-the-year wrapups, make sure you take a moment to appreciate the season.
The best time to do that might be at Mather Auditorium at William G. Mather Elementary School on Sunday, Dec. 14.
The Alger County Community Chorus will host its annual Christmas concert, featuring other area groups. Joyce Oas is the director of the community chorus and has been with the group for many years.
“My dad directed for many years, and I accompanied him,” Oas said. “He probably started in the late ’80s or ’90s. They would do a Christmas and Easter concert every year. Then he passed away in 2000, and I didn’t do it for a few years.”
That didn’t stand for too long, and soon Oas thought the best way to remember her dad was to present the concerts once again.
Oas said practices have started already for the Christmas concert, with not only the Alger Community Chorus but the Superior Shores Chorale, the Munising Vanguards and the Joyful Noise Kids Chorus warming up their vocal chords to perform.
“We’re excited to perform in the Christmas program,” said Paul Naasz, a member of the Vanguards for 40 years. He said membership has fluctuated over the years but now stands at 11. In addition to the Christmas concert, they perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” several times a year, as well as Christmas caroling and singing at area churches.
The group practices throughout the winter and takes the summers off, but Naasz is confident they will be ready for the Dec. 14 performance.
“We’re rounding the rough edges off now,” he said. He added that several of the members will be singing the cantata with the full chorus.
“We have about 30 people in the chorus,” Oas said. “The cantata is a musical story that is interspersed with some speaking parts.”
She said halfway through the cantata, the Vanguards and Joyful Noise will come out separately to perform.
Joyful Noise is a children’s chorus in the Munising area. Julie LaFlamme has been directing the group for three years, during which time she’s had a solid core of students between the fifth and eighth grades.
“We have eight or nine students,” LaFlamme said. “It’s a small group, but it’s fun.”
LaFlamme directs the group with the aid of Grace Veneberg.
One enjoyable thing for the students, and for LaFlamme herself, is being able to incorporate instruments into the performances.
“They enjoy playing the bells,” LaFlamme said. “It gives them a challenge.”
Many of the kids are just learning to read music.
“They’re given a bell, and they’re told when they’re supposed to ring it and follow the music,” she said. “I think they enjoy that part, and I do too because it’s fun to listen to them.”
Along with traditional music such as “Silent Night,” LaFlamme said that Joyful Noise will be presenting a version of “Edelweiss” and a piece named “Joy, Unspeakable Joy” based on “Joy to the World.”
LaFlamme said the kids are excited to present at the show.
“It’s great to see them getting the music and getting it consistently,” LaFlamme said.
Along with the many groups performing, Oas wants to remind people that there will be a sing-along portion of the show.
“We want people to get into the spirit,” Oas said.
While you’re singing, remember that each of these groups is always looking for more people to join in.
“We welcome everyone,” Naasz said. “As long as you can make it through the front door, you’re welcome.”
The Christmas concert will take place at 3 p.m. There is no admission fee, but donations are accepted. Oas said there’s no pressure to pay anything.
“I wanted it to be a gift to the community,” she said.
Naasz added, “We just want people to remember the reason for the season.”