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How do you celebrate Christmas? Opening presents? Sharing a meal? Worshiping at a Christmas Eve candlelight service? One way you can celebrate is to attend the Community Chorus Christmas Concert, set for Dec. 11 at Polk County High School.

 

The popular Christmas concert, titled “Celebrate Christmas,” returns after a three-year hiatus, with Dell Morgan directing and Pam McNeil accompanying on the grand piano. Morgan directed the Community Chorus’ last Christmas concert in 2019.

 

A native of Jonesville, S.C., Morgan 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 and is in his 20th year as pianist and hand-bell director for Holy Communion Lutheran Church in Spartanburg.

 

Accompanist McNeil has also played piano since she was five years old. She is a graduate of St. Andrews University and Western Carolina University, where she served as an accompanist and had her first experience with the original Moog synthesizer. McNeil has played for the Community Chorus, churches, musicals and parties, and has directed Tryon Little Theater musicals. She is currently the organist at Tryon United Methodist Church and works at Saluda Elementary School.

 

“Celebrate Christmas” offers a blend of popular and sacred Christmas music. Selections include such favorites as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” pop standards “A Holly Jolly Christmas” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and traditional Christmas carols “Still Still Still” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” among others.

 

And no concert would be complete without an audience sing-along of favorite Christmas carols.

 

“This promises to be an entertaining and fun concert for the whole family,” said Linda Lee Reynolds, president of the Community Chorus. “This year’s concert will be dedicated to the memory of Jan Impey, the chorus’ long-time director who recently passed away. We look forward to sharing our gift of music with the community.”

 

The Community Chorus is a non-profit organization made up of volunteers who enjoy choral singing. This year, chorus members range in age from 11 to 89. And everyone has fun while they sing for a good cause. Proceeds support the Rotary Club of Tryon Scholarship Fund. The concert is set for 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11 at the Polk County High School Auditorium. Tickets may be purchased from Rotary Club members or at the door.

 

Submitted by Sandra L. Sibley