Sisters choir serves up holiday music

The Sisters Community Choir, stunningly dressed in black with men in tuxedos and women in floor length attire, presented their second performance of the season to a crowd of more than 100 in the sanctuary of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration last weekend.

Sunday afternoon's performance was the group's final performance of the season.

This year's program included a variety of internationally flavored melodies from the choir as a whole, as well as solo and ensemble presentations.

Peggy Tehan's stunning performance of Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" was world class, and the delightful harmony of the quintet who call themselves The ForeFathers brought smiles to the faces of everyone in the audience.

The group's spokesman Si Simonsen jested that often audiences wonder why there are five of them when their name suggests there are only four. He quipped that it is all in the spelling of the word, and when anyone looks at the color of the group's hair or the lack of it, the explanation is obvious as to why the word is spelled "Fore."

Director George Larson, who resides in Bend, said he has served as the group's maestro for six years - "so, I've been with them about half their life, I guess you would say." Larson added that the choir has presented a holiday concert in Sisters for the past 12 or 13 years.

Most of the choir's members reside in Sisters, although some are from Bend and Redmond. Choir members pay annual dues of approximately $75 to purchase music and provide stipends that cover travel expenses and professional services for the director and accompanist.

Larson said that the group is always eager to welcome new members.

"We don't have a formal audition practice," he said. "We ask that a person can carry a tune. It's not necessary that they can read music - a number of our singers do not."

He added that the choir has a long schedule of rehearsals preparing for each performance.

The Sisters Community Choir is the brainchild of long time Sisters resident Emil Smith, who still sings with the group. In 1993, Smith encouraged Forrest Daniel to start the choir. At the time, Daniel, who was in charge of the choral music program at Central Oregon Community College, was close to retirement.

Smith said, "The community was growing, and my feeling is that ensemble choral singing is one of the best bonding agents for people that I know. And for Forrest rather than going from full-time to no time, it was a good transition for him."

Choir members come from a wide range of backgrounds and possess vastly different interests, yet they become very close through their one common interest of music.

"Whether you're performing or whether you're just participating by attending, it's a bonding agent for community, and growth happens in a very positive way," Smith reflected.

The holiday concert is free to the public, and Sisters Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration donates their facility for the choir's performances. The church allows the choir to practice free of charge at the church facility throughout the year. Opening their doors to the choir in this manner is another example of the church's generous and continual outreach program to the community.

For more information on the choir call Larson at 388-4895.