Volunteer choral singers have begun rehearsing for the Community Chorus’ annual Christmas concert titled “Remembering Decembers.”

 

The concert, under the direction of Dell Morgan, and accompanied by Pam McNeil on the grand piano, will feature Christmas music, both sacred and secular, that recalls Christmases and Christmas seasons from our past. The Christmas Brass Ensemble will also perform. The concert will take place at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, December 15, at the Polk County High School auditorium, with proceeds to benefit the Rotary Club of Tryon Scholarship Fund.

 

Morgan, a native of Jonesville, SC, began his formal music education at age five and studied piano, trumpet and voice throughout his high school years. He received a bachelor’s degree in music from Gardner Webb University and has been involved with church music, theater groups and performing groups for more than 30 years as a performer, conductor and pianist. He has accompanied the Tryon Little Theater musical productions.

 

Morgan was the founder of a music ensemble at the University of South Carolina Union campus that continued for more than 10 years. He now works at Converse College in Spartanburg as the circulation/document delivery supervisor for the Mickel Library. He is in his 17th year as pianist and hand-bell director for Holy Communion Lutheran Church in Spartanburg.

 

Accompanist McNeil’s keyboard career started when she was five years old with a color-coded toy piano. When she banged out “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” her mother decided it was time for lessons. 

 

Pam is a graduate of St. Andrews University and Western Carolina University, where she served as accompanist and had her first experience with the original Moog synthesizer. 

 

McNeil has played for the Community Chorus, Tryon Little Theater, churches, musicals, parties, friends and (once) a foster sheep. She is currently the organist at her church.

 

The Community Chorus is made up of about 75 volunteer vocalists from Polk and surrounding counties in both North and South Carolina. Rehearsals are at 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Tryon Presbyterian Church, 430 Harmon Field Road in Tryon. It’s not too late to join the Community Chorus for its Christmas concert. No audition required.

 

For more information, check out the Community Chorus website at: http://www.carolinacommunitychorus.org/ or on Facebook: Carolina Community Chorus.

 

Submitter by Sandra Sibley