Sisters singers ring out 'Magical Voices'

Christmas inched another step closer on Sunday evening with the 17th annual Magical Voices of Christmas program, sponsored by Sisters Rotary.

The annual free gift to the community began in 1996 when the president of the Sisters Rotary Club was scouting around for a community-based project. Over lunch one day, Barbara Turner suggested a music-based project, and Peg Bermel suggested the name. Thus was launched Magical Voices of Christmas, which in its early days boasted elaborate sets based around specific themes.

These days, things on stage have simplified. Performers sing, dance or play their instruments and the audience enjoys the focus of a home-grown production.

Young people have always been central to the success of Magical Voices. Tradition has the elementary school singers performing first, partly to corral their energy and partly to allow parents to take their young ones home early on a school night. This year the first- and second-grade choir sang "Pat a Pan" and "Winter Fantasy" while the third- and fourth-graders warbled their version of "Wind on the Hill" and "I Saw Three Ships." The Sisters High School (SHS) concert choir sang next, giving a polished rendition of "The First Noel."

In a slight departure from tradition, the out-of-town Johnson Family was invited to perform. The family of 11 traveled to Sisters from the small town of Dufur and entertained the audience with several selections that focused on the reason for the season. The family all sing and play instruments and clearly enjoy performing together.

One of the highlights of Magical Voices is the cookies that Rotarians bake and offer free of charge during intermission. The hungry crowd made quick work of the sweets, while also leaving a total of $320 in a donation jar, designated for the Ski Inn Employees Benefit Fund. The Rotary Club also presented the Sisters schools music programs a check for $1,500.

Melody Luloff made her first visit to the event with her neighbors, John and Stephanie Shepherd, whose daughter Chelsey was singing in the high school concert choir.

"It's delightful; very sweet," she said. Later, she added that the final numbers, performed by the Sisters Ukulele Band, were hilarious, especially the paradox of a group of Medicare-qualifiers singing that "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth."

Two Sisters High School students made use of the fine grand piano in the second half of the program. Alana Lukens played and sang the well-known "Music of the Night" from Phantom of the Opera. Cammi Benson partnered with Sisters resident Donna Moyer to present a lovely duet.

Rick Johnson, SHS choir director, had over 100 students to keep track of during the evening. In addition to the concert choir, the jazz choir sang several beloved Christmas carols during intermission, and then returned to the stage to sing a medley of Christmas tunes during the second half.

Americana students are a feature of the program these days, too. Mike Patterson and Megan Ellsworth performed their versions of holiday carols.

The Sisters Ukulele Band, decked out in snow boots, Hawaiian shirts and leis dedicated their performance of a medley of Christmas songs to a beloved long-time Rotarian, Lei Durdan, who recently passed away.

And last but by no means least, Santa made his appearance at the conclusion of the ukulele band's rendition of Mele Kaliki Maka. Possessing a fine singing voice, Santa lead a sing-along, co-opting Rotary President Kathryn Godsiff to stand in for Rudolph while the audience sang "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer." And, as always, the evening concluded with all present singing "Silent Night."