Members of the Greenbrier Valley Chorale are delighted to once again be preparing for a Christmas concert after a long hiatus brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. The concert—appropriately titled Sing We Noel—Again!—will be held on Sunday, Dec. 12, at 3 p.m. at Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg.
Artistic Director Barbara Lutz has worked carefully with the board of directors to ensure that rehearsals and the performance will adhere to CDC guidelines and the recommendations of the American Choral Directors Society.
Lutz was not sure what kind of response she would get when she announced that rehearsals were starting up again. She said she expected maybe 30 people to respond out of the group that usually numbers between 45 and 50. To her amazement, 44 people signed on, including six new members.
“That turnout says to me that the members feel comfortable with the protocols we have put in place. I was just thrilled so many came,” Lutz said.
The program will include: See Among the Winter Snow, Brightest and Best, This Christmastide, Sing We Noel, and more!
The program will include some favorites from past concerts, including See Among the Winter Snow, Brightest and Best, This Christmastide and Sing We Noel. The Gaelic carol Tladh Chriosda and the African rhythms of Noel will add an international touch, and the familiar strains of Christmas Time is Here from A Charlie Brown Christmas will evoke fond memories of Christmas past.
The singers have worked especially hard to prepare for the concert since rehearsals started a month later than usual and were cut short by 30 minutes each week due to Covid restrictions. They have also had to adjust to rehearsing in masks specially designed for singers and being socially distanced from one another.
“…the important thing is just to get together and sing” – Barbara Lutz
“It might not be as polished as our usual concerts, but the important thing is just to get together and sing,” Lutz said. “We have a passion to once again be the Greenbrier Valley Chorale.”
Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students and can be purchased through the Carnegie Hall website, carnegiehallwv.com.
For additional information, contact Barbara Elliott 304-497-3526; 304-520-2135 (cell)
– HashtagWV #138. December-January, 2022
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