Concert provides fun - and funds

A master of ceremonies dressed in a full tuxedo - plus plaid scarf and red Santa hat - set an atmosphere of class and fun at the Sisters Rotary Magical Voices of Christmas Concert in the high school auditorium this Friday, December 5.

The concert offered more than an enjoyable way to swing into the holiday season - proceeds went toward the Sisters Library's Bucks for Books campaign, and to the Sisters High School music department.

The show kicked off with a set from the barbershop-style High Desert Harmoneers, who treated the audience to harmonious melodies on Tin Pan Alley classics.

They also performed in quartets on two numbers, once coming out with big red bows and suckers for a humorous delivery of "All I Want For Christmas."

Next was the Sisters High School Jazz Ensemble directed by Jody Henderson. They mixed things up a bit with "Route 66" and "African Noel."

"It's awesome to be so directly involved," said high school singer Heidi Shultz, "especially since it benefits the music department."

Following an intermission that featured the high school band, the Sisters Community Choir performed under direction of Forrest Daniel.

Their performance was highlighted by 10-year-old Mirium Anderson's solo.

To wrap it up, the audience was invited to sing along with all three combined ensembles to such classics as "Silent Night."

The concert was put on by Sisters Rotary and the proceeds were divided among the music department at the high school and the library's Bucks for Books program.

Bucks for Books is a county-wide campaign organized to counteract Measure 47/50-triggered cutbacks on library funding.

"The book budget was cut by 90 percent," said librarian Peg Bermel, who heads up the program for Sisters. "We need a book budget."

Due to the county-wide cut-backs, which came into effect in July, the library was forced to cut the staff's hours by 20 percent, which forced the library to close on Mondays.

In addition the concert, the library hosted a can and bottle donation program that raised over $1,000. The library is also mailing out forms for direct donations.

"The friends of the Sisters library will help us out," said Bermel.

Rotarian Barbara Turner led the organization of the event.

"It hadn't been done for a few years and people around town wanted it back," Turner said. "We got the musicians to agree to perform and everything else just sort of happened."

Half of the proceeds will go to the Sisters High School music department, which is always strapped for funding and appreciates the extra revenue.

"It's good to do stuff like that with Rotary," said music director Jody Henderson. "It's good for the community to come out and see students making appearances."