'Magical Voices' ring out

The 16th annual Magical Voices of Christmas concert went off without a hitch on Sunday, December 2. The Rotary Club of Sisters presents and organizes the event, capping the evening with a donation to the choir and band programs at Sisters High School and the music program at Sisters Elementary School.

A beloved feature of the concert is performances by the children and youth of Sisters, and this year's program featured plenty.

The elementary school choir was back after a year's absence, with Donna Marshall at the helm of the program. The students opened the Celtic-themed concert with an Irish song, "The Wren," and the evergreen "We Wish You A Merry Christmas."

Sisters Dance Academy ballet and tap students took to the stage, as did Americana Project participants Avi Vogel and Jaimee Simundson. Vogel and Simundson sang holiday songs they had written, and their smoothly polished performances spoke volumes about the quality of music education in Sisters.

Cammi Benson is an accomplished young pianist who has graced the Magical Voices stage several times over the years. She played two classical pieces by Mozart and Bach, highlighting her skills and the fine piano available on the high school stage.

The high school Jazz and Concert Choirs clearly enjoy performing, and each half of the concert concluded with songs from these talented students.

A highlight of the show was toe-tapping melodies from the Celtic Jam Musicians, a quartet of Sisters musicians who love to play Celtic tunes. With Michelle Tormey on Celtic harp, Jana Nototny and Michele Sims on fiddle and Jeff Sims on guitar, their authentic sound rounded out the evening.

Mark Kershner sang an original Christmas song titled "The Most Blessed Birthday" and joined with the choir to lead the audience in another Magical Voices tradition, concluding the concert with singing "Silent Night."