Sacred Music Choir seeks members
With only 83 days remaining until Christmas, local singers and musicians are tuning up for the holiday.
Choir director Daryl Kemerer and his wife and accompanist Kathy of Prospect said they're again looking for singers to perform with their seasonal Sacred Music Choir.
The choir rehearses from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Mondays, beginning Oct. 13. Based at St. Peter's Anglican Church, 218 E. Jefferson St., the group, formed in 2011, is open to anyone 14 or older.
The nine-week practice season concludes with two one-hour concerts Dec. 12 and 13 at St. Peter's Anglican Church and Brush Creek Salem United Church of Christ in Irwin. Concert proceeds go to the two churches.
Daryl said he and Kathy, both members of St. Peter's with decades of musical experience between them, started the choir to highlight sacred music often overlooked on the usual Christmas music playlists.
It also ensures St. Peter's, which doesn't have a regular Sunday choir, experiences a live, full choir for Christmas.
The group, which has numbered nearly 15 singers in previous years, covers a variety of traditional Christian anthems and carols “from about 900 to the 20th century,” Daryl said.
Although many of the songs are unfamiliar to modern listeners, Kathy said the emotions in the melodies are still relatable.
“It's a season that so many people relate to in general, so it's not that this music we are doing is well known or real popular,” Kathy said. “But this mother is giving birth to this child and the importance of it all sort of strikes a chord with everybody in the world, I would think.”
Kathy said there are no auditions for the choir, which is open to all denominations, with singers from as far away as the North Hills participating.
“The commitment and the want to sing are the important thing,” Daryl said. “If they have some singing experience, of course, that's good.”Nancy Zadernak of Butler attends St. Peter's and said this will be her second season with the Sacred Music Choir.“I just like to sing, especially Christmas music,” Zadernak said. “It's very uplifting, and it's always a privilege.”Zadernak said she sang in the regular church choir before it disbanded and in the Blazing Star Choral Society for 20 years.“I've been singing since I was a little kid,” Zadernak said. “I just like to sing. It makes me happy.”Daryl said the choir sees a few repeat singers such as Zadernak every year.He would like to build a core of about 15 regular members, while keeping the group flexible and open to new performers.The Kemerers said their main goal for this season is to get more high school and college-aged singers to participate.“What we're trying to provide here is an experience for young people to do something that they can't do every day, to work toward a performance that people do appreciate,” Daryl said. “In today's modern world, everything is sort of immediate. This is an experience that takes time and development.”While the focus is on singing, Kathy, a piano teacher, said they're looking to incorporate more musicians in upcoming seasons.The Kemerers said there is no formal registration to join the Sacred Music Choir, but interested singers are invited to call 724-865-2548 or e-mail nedivemf30@embarqmail.com.
