Upper Valley Women's Choir: We Need A Little Christmas

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

We Need A Little Christmas - December 7, 2015

It's that time of year when the Upper Valley Women's Choir gets to share their love and joy of the Christmas Season. We are able to sing for the Homestead and Carriage Cove, at the Rexburg Rehabilitaion and Homestead in St. Anthony. It is so fun to sing with these delightful people and to have them join in singing with us!

The concert, "We Need A Little Christmas!"is scheduled for Monday, December 7th at 7:30 in the Rexburg Tabernacle. We will be featuring a children's choir, and Kelly Pyper on the flute, accompanied by Brynn Pyper on piano, and Davis Tonks on the organ. We will be singing wonderful songs such as Sally deFord's "A Manger Filled With Hay" and an arrangement by Heidi Pyper called, "What Is This Joy?" This along with Rutter's "Christmas Lullaby" and "Nutcracker Jingles." Come and join us for what promises to be a wonderful start to the Christmas Season!

1 comment:

MomDecember 3, 2015 at 2:24:00 AM MST
Sounds like a great program.
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

HISTORY

The Upper Valley Women's Choir was established in Rexburg, Idaho in 1978. A group of women approached Florence Bowman, a voice instructor at Ricks College, about directing the choir. She readily agreed. The first name of the choir was "The Rexburg Women's Choir."

The choir's first concert was held on
May 18, 1978 in the Rexburg 4th Ward building (corner of 2nd S and 1st E). In the beginning, rehearsals and concerts were held in different churches. After the city purchased the old Tabernacle, the group began to use the building for rehearsals and concerts. They were the first organization to consistently practice in the Tabernacle. With the move to the Tabernacle, the group changed their name to "The Cantabile Singers." In 2010, the name was changed to "The Upper Valley Women's Choir" to attract a wider variety of singers.

There was no lighting, sound equipment, or even a decent piano in the early days of the choir. Generous donations helped to purchase the first grand piano in the Tabernacle, as well as have it tuned each year. Donations have also helped with the repair of the organ, the window replacement project, and various other projects.

The choir has always been service-oriented. In the fall of 2010, members of the choir helped to wash the walls and paint the interior of the Tabernacle. Each semester they sing at the local nursing home and assisted living centers. They have sung for the special "Whoopee Days" celebrations for the Fourth of July, as well as the tree lighting ceremonies just after Thanksgiving. They have also performed for special Civic Club meetings, the closing ceremonies of the Idaho International Folk Dance Festival, and at the Senior Citizens Center.

There are usually between 35-45 members in the choir, with no audition required. The choir varies in age range and is made up of ladies who just love to sing and socialize each week. Rehearsals are held each Thursday from September to May, at 9:00 am in the Rexburg Tabernacle.

Traditionally, the Upper Valley Women's Choir does two concerts each year, in May and December. The concerts are free, but donations are greatly appreciated.