Choir to hold 50th anniversary concert
The Coshocton Community Choir’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert Glory and Honor will be held on Sunday, April 24 at 3 p.m. at Coshocton High School’s McKinley Auditorium.
The community choir was organized in 1971 by its director, Charles R. Snyder, a longtime Coshocton teacher, choral director, and church musician. Snyder says the theme for this concert, Glory and Honor, was inspired by focusing on two words.
“As the choir’s administrative assistant, Erin Jobes and I were talking about this concert a year ago, she mentioned those two words: ‘Glory and Honor,'” Snyder said. “I immediately thought of our logo and mission: Soli Deo Gloria – ‘to God alone, the glory.” Then we remembered two of the traditional songs we sing at spring concerts: ‘St. Theodulph’s Hymn ~ All glory, laud, and honor,’ which we’ve sung since 1977; and ‘Beautiful Savior’ which includes the phrase Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forever more be Thine! which we’ve sung since 1978.
“Tom Kulewicz, the artist who has created our concert logos since 1988, used the royal blue of our robes for the background of his design, and gold, often used for a 50th birthday or anniversary, for the lettering.”
The choir’s long-time composer friend Garry Cornell composed an opening fanfare for the choir’s 50th anniversary. “We will sing this new piece from the back of the auditorium, then the choir will proceed to the stage,” Snyder said. “The first half of the 60 minute concert will include Pablo Casals’ ‘O Vos Omnes,’ Christian Gregor’s ‘Hosanna, Blessed Is He Who Comes,’ Randall Thompson’s classic ‘Alleluia,’ and the early-American hymn, ‘The Morning Trumpet.’ That set will conclude with a new arrangement of the much-loved hymn, ‘How Great Thou Art.'”
For the 50th, the choir also commissioned an arrangement of “This Little Light of Mine” by Dr. Timothy D. Sarsany, who recently served as choral director at Muskingum University. “The piece is also scored for piano, brass quintet and percussion,” Snyder said. “I’ve asked Dr. Sarsany to conduct the premiere at our concert, and I’ll lead the audience as they join in the last stanza.”
When the Choir’s 50th anniversary concert is presented on April 24, it will be the first they have sung a full concert in McKinley Auditorium since Dec. 8, 2019. In early March 2020, the choir was in the middle of rehearsing when the pandemic hit.
“We decided this coming concert would be shorter than usual, largely because the pandemic created many postponements to beginning choir rehearsal this season; and we wanted to include those alumni who can be with us for the celebration,” Snyder said. “So, this concert will feature just the adult choir. The youth chorale [grades nine to 12] will have their own concert in May. The Coshocton Singers [grades four to eight] will have auditions this fall to prepare for our next season.”
The Roscoe Brass Quintet will play a selection as community choir alumni move from their seats in the audience to join the current choir on stage.
The combined choir and 50 alumni will sing “In Glad Adoration” and “Lift High the Cross” – two commissioned anthems, as well as “Cry Out and Shout,” “The King of Love,” “Canticle of Praise,” and “Hallelujah” from Messiah. The concert will conclude with “Beautiful Savior,” and “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.”
“We’ve been hearing from several long-time audience members who are looking forward to this upcoming concert,” Snyder said. “After the past two years, we are all grateful to hear live choral music again. We hope the concert-goers will be uplifted by the experience; and perhaps many may decide they’d like to be part of the choir.”
The Coshocton Community Choir’s Spring Concert Glory and Honor takes place on Sunday, April 24, at 3 p.m. at Coshocton High School’s McKinley Auditorium, located at 1205 Cambridge Road in Coshocton. Masks are optional for audience members and singers.
Tickets for the concert are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are available at the door, or on the choir website www.CoshoctonCommunityChoir.org.
To find out more about the Coshocton Community Choir, call the choir office at 740-623-0554, check out the Coshocton Community Choir Facebook page, or visit their website www.CoshoctonCommunityChoir.org.
Category: Arts & Entertainment
