KING FERRY - Christmas is a time for music and tradition, a local choir brought both to churches in King Ferry and Genoa Sunday.
The Southern Cayuga Community Choir rang in the season with its annual Christmas cantata.
The group performed “Unspeakable Joy: A Christmas Musical” at Our Lady of the Lake Church, and then later at United Church in Genoa.
A cantata is often defined as a piece of vocal music with instrumental accompaniment that is performed in multiple movements.
The hour-long program featured choral arrangements by gospel artist Lari Gross and narration by Claire Cloninger. Each song fused inspirational, holiday-themed lyrics with blues and R&B, traditional music and contemporary influences. Between the songs, narrator Greg Wesley dictated the story of the first Christmas.
Numerous soloists and small ensembles from members of the 30-piece group were featured throughout.
Director Judy Davis, who founded the group 26 years ago, said that she chose the cantata because she knew the choir members would like the music.
“The singers like peppy, fun stuff,” Davis said.
Though there were a few Christmas carols sprinkled in the middle of some of the songs, most of the music from “Unspeakable Joy” is original material, she added.
“Very few of the modern cantatas have old, traditional songs,” Davis said.
The Southern Cayuga Community Choir boasts singers of all ages and from churches all around the county.
Beginning in October, the group meets every Sunday rehearsing the Christmas concert.
Davis said she started the choir because there were not a lot of options for singers in the area at the time, other than church choirs.
She envisioned a choir that would invite anyone who wanted to sing.
“Nobody else was doing anything like this, and I thought it would be a lot of fun,” she said.
Connie Wilbur, of King Ferry, joined the choir about 10 years ago and played piano Sunday. Wilbur said she has spent years accompanying high school choirs, and she especially enjoys working with the Southern Cayuga Community Choir because Davis always chooses inspiring, up-tempo music.
“It is just great for a group of people from all different churches to get together,” Wilbur said. “And they are getting together to have a great time. That always makes for great music.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
The group performed “Unspeakable Joy: A Christmas Musical” at Our Lady of the Lake Church, and then later at United Church in Genoa.
A cantata is often defined as a piece of vocal music with instrumental accompaniment that is performed in multiple movements.
The hour-long program featured choral arrangements by gospel artist Lari Gross and narration by Claire Cloninger. Each song fused inspirational, holiday-themed lyrics with blues and R&B, traditional music and contemporary influences. Between the songs, narrator Greg Wesley dictated the story of the first Christmas.
Numerous soloists and small ensembles from members of the 30-piece group were featured throughout.
Director Judy Davis, who founded the group 26 years ago, said that she chose the cantata because she knew the choir members would like the music.
“The singers like peppy, fun stuff,” Davis said.
Though there were a few Christmas carols sprinkled in the middle of some of the songs, most of the music from “Unspeakable Joy” is original material, she added.
“Very few of the modern cantatas have old, traditional songs,” Davis said.
The Southern Cayuga Community Choir boasts singers of all ages and from churches all around the county.
Beginning in October, the group meets every Sunday rehearsing the Christmas concert.
Davis said she started the choir because there were not a lot of options for singers in the area at the time, other than church choirs.
She envisioned a choir that would invite anyone who wanted to sing.
“Nobody else was doing anything like this, and I thought it would be a lot of fun,” she said.
Connie Wilbur, of King Ferry, joined the choir about 10 years ago and played piano Sunday. Wilbur said she has spent years accompanying high school choirs, and she especially enjoys working with the Southern Cayuga Community Choir because Davis always chooses inspiring, up-tempo music.
“It is just great for a group of people from all different churches to get together,” Wilbur said. “And they are getting together to have a great time. That always makes for great music.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.