Choral Society continues 50-year Christmas tradition
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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church was buzzing on Saturday as Mason Niblack and the Mission Valley Choral Society practiced for their annual concert on Sunday, joined by the Flathead Flute Choir and the Polson High School brass ensemble.
Against a background of a tall Christmas tree and a stable for the children’s play, pianist Karen Vergeront and the Polson High School brass ensemble students warmed up, choir members milled around and Brian Campbell set up his drums and located the tambourine.
Then Niblack got to work. With the choir seated in pews, he told them the rehearsal “was as much about logistics as music.”
He asked the ladies to pick up their red choir scarves, and the gents to grab a red bow tie before they practiced. Dress for the concert is white shirts and black pants or skirts.
Then they sang.
About 30 voices — bass, tenor, alto and soprano — blended for songs such as the processional carol, “Oh Come All Ye Faithful.”
Tillie Marshall has been adding her voice to the choir for 21 years.
“I love to sing,” she said. “I love the group. Some of us have been together so long, we don’t know any better.”
Marshall joined a year before friend Rachel Lonnevik.
This is Adrianne Gneiting’s first year, and she’s bouncy and enthusiastic.
“I love to sing,” she said. “ I like bringing music to people.
“I’ve been singing, let’ see,” Warren Hommas calculated, “since about 1997 or 1998. I just like to sing.”
So does Kim Sheesley, who’s been a choir member since 2001 or 2002.
Joyce Kackmann has been on a 16-year hiatus; this is her first year back. She came back because it’s fun.
This year is a big deal, Niblack said, because the choir is singing music never sung in Montana before.
“We’ve been doing this for more than 50 years,” he said, “and we’re pleased with the turnout.”
It’s a ritual in the community — music to welcome the Christmas season, some familiar and some new.
