###This program has currently been suspended due to the ongoing COVID19 pandemic###
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Do you like to Sing? Join WCCMA’s Holiday Choir! Come help us spread music this season, we have a place for all ages and abilities welcome.
We are currently seeking:
Sections Leaders (paid)
Choir Members (students get an honorarium for perfect attendance)
Visit wcc-ma.org/jobs for details.
The WCCMA’s Holiday Choir program began in 2017 as a pick-up and low-rehearsal choir to increase opportunities for community singing in the Claremont, southern Upper Valley NH/VT region. WCCMA collaborates with Claremont Parks and Recreation, New England Classical Academy, and Union – St. Luke’s Church in Claremont. Repertoire consists of secular and sacred music of the season, and is led by WCCMA’s Executive and Artistic Director Melissa Richmond. This year the program will transition to a student and community program with professional section leaders so that music students and community singers may learn from professional singers in their voice types, providing a richly rewarding musical and educational experience. Members of the choir will be auditioned with the expectation that anyone interested in musical growth and enrichment will be welcomed. This program may expand and will be significantly shaped based on the input of this seasons participants.
Rehearsals take place at Union Church Parish Hall (upstairs), 133 Old Church Rd, Claremont.
2019 Schedule:
Pick up Choir (all participants):
Performance: Broad Street Park Lighting and arrival of Santa, in collaboration with Claremont Parks and Recreation
Music packet: https://www.dropbox.com/s/e6mw48wlol3s0qk/Holiday%20Choir%20Park%20Lighting%20packet.pdf.pdf?dl=0
Friday, November 29th, 6:00pm
Meet at 5:30pm at the Claremont Fire Station, singing begins at 6pm – aprox 6:45
Dress: Warm! Festive touches welcome, bring jingle bells if you have them.
Rehearsal: We will hold 2 rehearsals, TBA, before this event
Rehearsal Choir:
Rehearsal: Weekly in December
All rehearsals held at Union Church Hall, 133 Old Church Rd, Claremont, NH
Monday, December 2nd: 6:30 – 7:45pm
Wednesday, December 11th: 6:30 – 7:45pm
Monday, December 16th: 6:30 – 7:45pm
Monday, December 23rd: 6:30 – 7:45pm
Performances:
- Thursday December 19th, 6:30pm Sing a Joyful Christmas Sing Along event, in collaboration with New England Classical Academy
- Tuesday, December 24th, 7pm Christmas Eve Community Service, in collaboration with Union Church
- Sunday, December 29th, 10am Service of Lessons and Carols in collaboration with Union Church
Location: Union Church, 133 Old Church Rd, Claremont, NH
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Choir Resources (stay tuned for updates):
Programs:
- Sing! A Joyful Christmas: This program will be mostly in a sing-along format. Other performers include local musicians and students of the New England Classical Academy. The Choir will help lead Dona Nobis Pacem in 3 parts in particular, and will be highlighted in singing some of the fun kids songs (so please plan to bring any fun props and jingle bells you may have!)
Program will be announced soon
- Candlelight Christmas Eve Service: The choir will be featured, along with at least one soloist on “Oh Holy Night.” The rest of the program includes:
- O come, all ye faithful (HYMN 83) https://hymnary.org/hymn/EH1982/83
- Angels we have heard on high (HYMN 96)
- Joy to the World (HYMN 100) https://hymnary.org/hymn/EH1982/100
- It came upon a midnight clear (HYMN 89) https://hymnary.org/hymn/EH1982/89
- O little town of Bethlehem (HYMN 79) https://hymnary.org/hymn/EH1982/79
- Doxology (HYMN 380, verse 3) https://hymnary.org/hymn/EH1982/380
- Silent Night, Holy Night (HYMN 111) https://hymnary.org/hymn/EH1982/111
- Hark! The herald angels sing (HYMN 87) https://hymnary.org/hymn/EH1982/87
- Lessons and Carols: This is a program that includes solo and choir/congregation singing. It will feature brass quintet, organ, and the potential of 1-2 rehearsed choir pieces.
- Past programs included:
- Once in Royal David’s City (HYMN 102) (with youth soloist) https://hymnary.org/hymn/EH1982/102
- Songs of Praise the Angels Sang (HYMN 426)
- Jerusalem, my Happy Home (HYMN 620)
- The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came (HYMN 265)
- It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (HYMN 89) https://hymnary.org/hymn/EH1982/89
- Canticle of Simeon (antiphon only) (HYMN S196)
- The First Nowell (HYMN 109)
- Joy to the World (HYMN 100) https://hymnary.org/hymn/EH1982/100