The Coshocton Community Choir will perform selections from their Comfort and Joy Christmas concert on Sunday, December 10, 2023, at 7:00 pm, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Newcomerstown. The 86-voice adult choir includes singers from Coshocton and twelve other counties. The choir is under the direction of Charles R. Snyder, and will perform a mix of sacred and secular Christmas choral music.
Snyder shares how he developed this year's concert theme. "With all the world’s current tragedies, one wonders how we can still rejoice," said Snyder. "We all need comfort, especially at this time, and we also need some joy to keep us going. 'God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen', while in a minor key, provides both. Comfort and Joy seems to be a perfect theme this year."
Snyder feels the audience will especially enjoy several of this concert selections including 'Comfort Ye' from Messiah; 'Wake, Awake'; the spiritual 'Mary Had a Baby'; 'Sing We Now of Christmas'; 'Carol of the Drum'; 'We Three Kings'; 'Christmas Bell Carol'; 'What Child Is This?'; 'O Holy Night'; 'Come to the Stable'; and several carols for the audience to join in. "As you listen at the concert, you’ll hear a few pieces in minor keys and many in major keys - some for pondering, some for goosebumps, and many that will bring smiles," shared Snyder.
Each year, the Community Choir's Christmas concert tells the Christmas story through narration and song in a new way. "We're so appreciative of the Reverend Richard K. Hoover's creative gift of writing the concert's 'story' for us each year," added Snyder, "which is shared during the concert by narrators Gordon Kendall and Connie Roberts as they weave the story between the various musical numbers."
"Every year, someone will look me in the eye after the concert, and say, 'This is my Christmas!'," continued Snyder. "We hope it will be an important part of your Christmas celebration, too."
The concert venue is St. Paul Lutheran Church which is located at 121 South College Street in Newcomerstown. The Church is handicapped accessible. No tickets are necessary but a freewill offering will be accepted to help support the ministry of the Coshocton Community Choir. All are welcome to attend the concert on Sunday, December 10 at 7:00 pm. Additional information is available by calling the Church office (open 9:00AM - 12:00PM) at 740-498-6682.
To find out more about the Coshocton Community Choir (now in its 53rd season), 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.