For 48 years, St. Peter’s Chorus has been entertaining those in the Humboldt area.
This years Advent Celebration is basically two concerts in one, says choir director Maxine Moore.
The organ is a big part of the first half of the concert with Transeamus being done on full organ and the original arrangement of O’ Come All Ye Faithful which is quite different than what people are used to, says Moore.
The first half will also include a flute accompaniment by Michele Ackerman.
The second half switches gears to more fun pieces, says Moore, including a more “tongue-in-cheek” song called the Lesser Joys of Christmas.
“It’s talking about all the Christmas shopping, all the things I have to do, of course it’s just people running around trying to get ready for Christmas.”
Kevin Ackerman on the guitar and Balir Emde on the drums add some rhythm to the second half for some more soft rock backup.
“It’ll keep you moving, that’s for sure. That’s what I plan for concerts is that always something will change.”
Moore says she starts planning the music selection a month in advance because there is so much music to go through.
Moore now has the same problem for the choir’s 50th anniversary.
She is already going over possible music selections for the choir’s concert in 2017.
Fifty years is a big deal for choirs.
“I’ve talked with the people in the Choral Federation and they said they really didn’t keep track of things like that.”
Moore is quite certain that her choir is one of the only community choirs still in existence.
“Lot of our church choirs are shutting down and so it’s nice to have a choir for people to have access too.”
Moore says there have probably been a thousand people in the course of the choir’s history.
This year alone is seeing people from 13 different communities in the area.
People from Drake, Englefeld, Fulda, Guernsey, Humboldt, Lanigan, Leroy, Middle Lake, Muenster, Naicam, Saskatoon, St. Brieux and Watson all come down to sing in the choir.
“This is almost an extension of a social experience as well to have a common bond between people from so many different communities.”
Driving the distance for some is a testament to their dedication, says Moore. If they’re willing to drive that much for practice and concerts they must be getting something out of it, she says.
The St. Peter’s Chorus Advent Celebration is on Dec. 13 at 2:30 at St. Augustine Church.
Tickets are available from choir members and Shoppers Drug Mart.
