Annual holiday concert slated

The Boyertown Area Choral Association will present “The Hope of Christmas,” its 28th annual holiday concert, on Sunday, Dec. 2, at 3 p.m. at The Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, 35 W. Philadelphia Ave., Boyertown.

The theme of this year’s concert is based on a new song that expresses the timeless wish that Christmas would last “longer than a season.” The community chorus will also offer other soulstirring selections in the hourlong program to fill the audience with holiday cheer to last all year through.

The choir is directed by Donna M. House with Robin Ward on piano.

Good Shepherd’s Minister of Music Matthew Wary will lend a hand (two, actually) for the

four-part accompaniment of the vibrant “Fum, Fum, Fum.”

Other guest instrumentalists add depth to many of the songs; a syncopated and contemporary version of “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen” is enhanced by a lively violin accompaniment.

The violin is also prominently featured in the wistful Irish folk song “December Rose” and joins other strings to complement the emotional English carol “See, Amid the Winter’s Snow.”

Percussion adds welcome depth to several of the songs, especially the exuberant opening number of “Sing Noel” (a vibrant combination of African “Noel” and “Go, Tell It on the Mountain”).

The concert ends with “All on a Silent Night,” a lovely arrangement which pairs an original melody with the beloved classic.

A free-will offering will be taken with a portion of the proceeds designated for the Margaretta R. Lamb Scholarship. Audience members are invited to join the chorus for a cookie reception immediately following the performance.

The choir will also be singing at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 45 N. Reading Ave., on Dec. 7 from 6 to 7 p.m. as part of the Boyertown Area Historical Society’s Holiday Tour.