FRANKLIN TWP — Daryl and Kathy Kemerer, of 2317 Route 528, are looking for a few good voices.

Kathy, an organ and piano teacher for 38 years, and her husband, a retired Butler School District music teacher, want recruits for their Sacred Music Choir 2017.

Daryl Kemerer said, “We're not a formal choir, not a yearlong choir. It's a gathering for a Christmas concert.”

Kathy Kemerer said, “We started in 2011 with this group, but over the years we have done it off and on since the '80s.”

The Kemerers, with Daryl as the choir director and Kathy accompanying on the organ, and the choir will perform two concerts this winter: at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at St. Peter's Anglican Church, 218 E. Jefferson St., and at 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at Brush Creek -Salem United Church of Christ in Irwin.

Each concert is planned to last about an hour and will be accompanied by a bell choir organized by former choir member Lydia Boden of Butler.

But audiences shouldn't expect choir renditions of “Frosty the Snow Man” or “Jingle Bells,” the Kemerers said.

They said the purpose of the choir is to preserve and perform songs from the past of sacred choral music and expose young people to the music.

Daryl Kemerer said, “We are open and we welcome new members, especially young people.”

“The whole concept is we are trying to get young people to sing with older adults some of the masterpieces of Christian music.

“We are trying to encourage young people to hear some of the music and experience some of the music,” he said.

He said the choir usually has 15 to 20 members and “we welcome any singer interested if they are 14 years of age or older.”

He added, “We are not teaching people to sing. People should have some previous experience, the desire and the commitment to attend rehearsals.”

Rehearsals will begin Oct. 9 at St Peter's Anglican Church, said Kathy Kemerer, run from 7:30 to 9 p.m. and continue for nine weeks.

Anyone interested in joining Sacred Music Choir 2017 should call 724-865-2548.

They said they are anxious for rehearsals to start because it's hard to chose music until they know exactly how many sopranos, altos and other voices they will have to work with.

One returning choir member is Clarissa Boden of Butler.

She said, “I've done three previous years, so this will be my fourth year.”

“Mrs. Kamerer was my organ teacher in high school. She contacted me and asked me if I would be interested and I said 'Yes.'”

“I studied music in high school and this is a good way to keep up with that,” Boden said. “I actually enjoy practice, I really do. For the first few weeks you see what parts you have, and then you put the parts together and build the choir up from that.”

Daryl Kamerer said, “Every year is different. It's interesting for the congregation as it is for us.”

One thing different this year will be that a bell choir joins the choir.

Clarissa's sister, Lydia Boden of Butler, who sang with the choir in the past as well as played violin accompaniment, is the bell choir organizer.

Boden said, “I need eight to 11 players. How much we'll play will be determined by the number of players.

“We will be rehearsing at Homeacre Chapel, 340 Whitestown Road, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. beginning Sept. 26,” she said. “No prior music experience is needed.”

Those interested in joining the bell choir should call Boden at 724-283-5805.

When asked why she is putting all the time and effort into two concerts scheduled months away, Boden said, “I think I enjoy the ministry to other people. I enjoy spending time with other people who have the same interests and being able to better myself in the things I enjoy.”

Daryl Kemerer has another reason for putting on the annual concerts. He said, “Music doesn't exist unless it is performed. Whenever you perform it, you make it come alive.”