Plans are under way for the 2010 Christmas concert of the Carolina Community Chorus, under the direction of Richard L. Kennedy, accompanied by Pam McNeil. The festive holiday concert is set for 3 p.m. Sunday, December 12, at the Polk County High School auditorium.

Richard Kennedy was born in Atlanta, Ga., and received his bachelors degree in music from William Carey College, Hattiesburg, Miss. He earned his masters degree in vocal performance at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Tx. He has done additional graduate work at the University of Mississippi, the University of Kentucky and the Goethe Institut in Rothenburg, Germany.

Kennedy retired in 2007 after 35 years as a college choral director. He was on the faculty at North Greenville College in Tigerville, S.C., where he conducted the concert choir from 1972 to 1979. From there he assumed a position on the faculty of Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Ky., where he conducted the Voices of Appalachia for 28 years. He also sang with the Greenville Chorale in its 2007-08 season. He has been the music director in numerous churches throughout his career.

Kennedy is married to Dorothy, his wife of 44 years. The Kennedys live in the Links Community in Gowensville, S.C. Since returning to the Carolinas theyve joined the Tryon Presbyterian Church, where Richard directs the adult choir.

Pam McNeil says shes been accompanying vocal groups as long as she can remember. A graduate of St. Andrews Presbyterian College and Western Carolina University, she has served as pianist for the Carolina Community Chorus, Tryon Little Theater productions and fund-raisers, Tryon Fine Arts Center fundraisers, private recitals, and various other events.

She is the organist at Jackson Grove Methodist Church outside of Landrum and is currently serving as interim organist at Tryon United Methodist Church. Her day job is with the Tryon Daily Bulletin as production manager. She lives in Lynn with her three fur-kids.

Rehearsals for the Christmas concert begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday, October 4, at the Tryon Presbyterian Church, across from Harmon Field. The chorus will rehearse on subsequent Mondays from 7 to 9 p.m. at the church. Anyone interested in singing with the chorus should come to the first rehearsal on October 4.

For more information, check out the website at www.carolinacommunitychorus.org.