The annual Christmas concert held in the Meota Community Complex the evening of Dec. 1 went off without a hitch. It is spearheaded by Ann and Charles Baillargeon with many volunteers from the Meota Lions Club Mens Choir pitching in to help. The talent they brought together for the event was outstanding and the full-house crowd appreciated the results of their efforts.
More than 350 people attended. Joe Fransoo was the capable MC.
The Meota Mens Choir opened the program with the singing of Its A Wonderful Time Of The Year. There are 23 men involved, many quite young, accompanied by Garry Gansauge on the piano and under the direction of Lisa Hornung.
Next item was young Dominique Esquirol, dressed in her pyjamas, in a Christmas eve setting, singing Has Anybody Seen Santa?
Next was Karl Caslor and Stephen Carter singing Peace on Earth and Drummer Boy.
Then the International String Band, consisting of about a dozen violin players, of many nationalities, played three numbers. They were a real crowd pleaser.
Then came the Beach Boys - four men who live on Beach Avenue in Meota - who sang I Wish It Was Christmas Every Day.
John Kim sang Panis Angelicus. What a voice this man has!
Then the play of the Bethlehem scene followed with Dave Tupling playing the part of Joseph, singing Mary, Did You Know?, followed by Jaki Esquirol as Mary, singing Breath of Heaven. The two shepherds played by David Patterson and Noah Esquirol sang Do You Hear What I Hear? Next the three wise men, Les Richardson, Peter Cowan and Andre Van Der Merwe, sang What Child Is This?. Then the two angels, Larissa Chipak and Morgan Esquirol, sang Angels We Have Heard.
Two songs were sung by a group of newly moved to Canada from the Ukraine folks - one woman and four children - in their native costumes and in Ukrainian.
Dave Tupling sang Old Toy Trains as only he could - wonderfully!
Next Jaya Hoy played a Schubert number on the piano, to everyone's delight.
Michael then had an interview with Elmo from Sesame Street, discussing what he wanted for Christmas.
Lisa Harnung sang Heirlooms in her own special way.
The Meota Men's Chorus returned to the stage for the closing four songs, ending with Let There Be Peace On Earth.
Battlefords Empty Stocking Fund executive director Bill Hill accepted the cheque for over $3,000, the proceeds from the evening's event, from Charles Baillargeon.
