Community Singers offer mini-concert; full concert this week

By Rob Vogt

As the sound of singing filled the air at West Meadow Elementary School last week, it was just a small taste of what the Claresholm Community Singers will be offering with their Christmas concerts later this week.
The Community Singers were at the school on Thursday, Dec. 5, where choir member and retired teacher Daryl Sutter introduced the group.
“We’re made up of people from the community who love to sing,” he explained.
Sutter pointed to junior high student Zander Zemlak, the youngest member of the choir, who was a member of the West Meadow choir when he was a student at the school. It is never too soon to become a member of the community singers, and new members are always welcome.
Sutter noted the choir is holding two upcoming concerts.
This mini-concert is just a sneak preview, with about two-thirds of the full choir.
“We want to get music more out into the community,” Sutter said.
In an interview after the concert, Sydna Ascione, the choir’s musical director, talked about the upcoming concerts.
She said there will be a lot of fun pieces, traditional carols, community sing-a-longs scattered throughout the concert, and music by guest John Vandenbeld.
There will also be a silent auction. All proceeds will go to defray the increasing costs of sheet music and other choir expenses.
The silent auction will feature a number of items including tickets to the Claresholm Arts Society’s upcoming production of “Mary Poppins” to soap and much more.
The auction goes both nights, with successful bidders contacted after the second concert.
The concerts are both at the Claresholm United Church on Friday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are available from choir members, at the Claresholm Local Press, and at the door.
Ascione invites everyone to check out the Claresholm Community Singers.
“If you like music and you like to listen to music, come out,” she said.
“Come celebrate the season,” Sutter added, noting a lot of people have had an up and down year.
That in part is why the concert is called “We Need a Little Christmas”.