Community choir to present spring concert
COSHOCTON – The Coshocton Community Choir’s Live into Hope Spring Concert will be Sunday, April 28 at 3 p.m.at Coshocton High School’s McKinley Auditorium.
Now in its 48th season, the community choir was organized in 1971 by its director, Charles R. Snyder, a longtime Coshocton teacher, choral director, and church musician. Snyder said the theme for this concert, Live into Hope, was inspired by focusing on the hope of the spring season.
“Alexander Pope wrote ‘Hope springs eternal in the human heart’,” said Snyder. “Budding trees, the first spring flowers, and the message of Easter always fill me with hope. A hymn text by Jane Parker Huber proclaims: ‘Live into hope, the blind shall see with insight and clarity, removing shades of pride and fear – a vision of our God brought near’. I believe words of hope put to music have the power to lift us from fear and worry. I believe this concert, strengthened by words of hope and the Easter message of love will fill listeners’ hearts with joy. I’ve seen the difference it’s made in the choir as we’ve been rehearsing.”
The choir program explores a wide mix of songs in a variety of styles. Songs suggested by community choir members for this concert include Wagner’s ‘Pilgrim’s Chorus’, Haydn’s ‘The Heavens Are Telling’ [from The Creation], and Randall Thompson’s ‘The Last Words of David’.
“For me, Mendelssohn’s setting of Psalm 43 trumpets the hope message: O my soul, why be full of sorrow, and why remain deep in despair? Hope in the Lord! God is my redeemer and savior, and my Lord God,” said Snyder. “A new arrangement of the beloved spiritual, ‘I’ve Got Peace Like a River’ and Eric Nelson’s setting of ‘It Is Well With My Soul’ have recharged our hope batteries as we’ve been rehearsing them. And I know the audience will enjoy joining the three choirs in singing ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’. It’s a real toe tapper!”
Toward the end of the spring concert each year, former choir members in the audience are invited to join the choir on the stage to sing Dr. Christiansen’s arrangement of ‘This Is My Father’s World’, and ‘The Lord Bless You and Keep You’.
“During the Coshocton Singers portion of the concert, we also invite former children’s choir (Coshocton Singers) members in the audience to join the choir on stage as they sing ‘I’m Goin Up-a Yonder’ and ‘Blessing’,” said Snyder.
There are more than 200 musicians from throughout central Ohio who participate in this concert including the adult choir, The Coshocton Singers (grades 4 through 8), the Coshocton Youth Chorale (grades 9 through 12), instrumentalists Dickie Barrick and Mark Wagner on piano, and the Roscoe Brass Ensemble.
“We’re celebrating Dickie Barrick and her 35 seasons as our principal accompanist!” said Snyder. “She also is the accompanist for The Coshocton Singers and the Coshocton Youth Chorale. Her faithfulness, talent, collegiality, and humility have made her an invaluable part of our success. So much of what we do would not be possible without her. The Roscoe Brass Quintet has been an integral part of our concerts since 1991, and Don Kason and Steve Hildreth have also shared their talents in scoring and arranging some of the brass accompaniments we use.
“Those attending one of our spring concerts for the first time are usually surprised at how similar the Christmas and spring concerts are. We explore the story of Easter in the first few songs and beautiful spring flowers adorn the stage. I am convinced you will leave this concert with a renewed spirit, a recharged battery, and hope in your heart.”
The Coshocton Community Choir’s Spring Concert Live into Hope will be Sunday, April 28, at 3 p.m. at Coshocton High School’s McKinley Auditorium, 1205 Cambridge Road, Coshocton.
Tickets for the 90-minute concert are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are available at the door, on the choir’s website www.CoshoctonCommunityChoir.org or by calling Business Manager, Lee Bown at 740-622-3960. Pre-sale tickets are also available from choir members or from these ticket outlets: in Coshocton at the Coshocton Presbyterian Church or Buehler’s Foodmarket; in Newcomerstown at Baker’s Foods; in West Lafayette at Home Loan Savings Bank; or in Roscoe Village at the Coshocton County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“After every concert I hear from a few local residents who had not known there is a community choir here, and experienced our concert because someone invited them,” Snyder said. “Their joy and delight is obvious as they share their experience. I encourage you to invite someone to join you for our 48th spring concert, Live into Hope!”
To find out more about the Coshocton Community Choir, The Coshocton Youth Chorale, or the Coshocton Singers, 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
