High Desert Chorale tunes up for holidays

If it’s Sisters, and it’s Christmas, then the High Desert Chorale is taking the stage for its annual winter concert at Sisters Community Church. This year’s performances will be December 2 at 7 p.m. and December 4 at 2:30 p.m. The church is located at 1300 McKenzie Hwy.

The theme for this year’s songfest is “The Glory of Christmas.” The group of some 50 community singers will perform 10 works. They will be preceded by a bell choir known as the Twelve Tones performing a Bell Prelude led by,Lola Knox.

The Twelve Tones, formerly organized as Sisters High Desert Bell Choir, will also be appearing at Sisters Library December 3 at 11:30 a.m., in an annual gathering with a program: “Know Joy.” Founded in 2008, the bell choristers are a staple of musical entertainment in Sisters Country.

The Chorale will take on challenging pieces.

“There will be some favorites,” said Connie Gunterman, the group’s director, “but with less familiar arrangements.”

Gunterman will be aided by several instrumentalists including Matt Faldmo on the djemba, Adrienne Brown on viola, Knox and Susan Miller on the recorder.

“Glow,” by Eric Whitacre and Edward Esch, will be dedicated to Jim Anderson, longtime Nugget columnist and Chorale booster. “The First Noel,” and “Pachelbel’s Canon,” arranged by Michael Clawson, will be blended.

“‘Mary, Did You Know?’” by Pentatonix will be a first for Sisters audiences,” Gunterman said, “and I predict it will be well appreciated.”

Donna Moyer is the group’s longtime accompanist. Pratices are held Monday nights at The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration and are open to everybody with a love of singing.

“We are the classic community singing group,” Gunterman enthused. “You can’t be too old, or too young.”

The concerts are free and are accompanied by a cookie treat table.

The High Desert Chorale, about 25 in number, will also be on hand at the annual tree lighting ceremony set for Friday, November 25, at Fir Street Park at 5:30 p.m. The tree lighting is one of Sisters Country’s most cherished events.