The Favorite Anthems Concert

Many people have told me the music program is one of their favorite things about Valley Presbyterian.  While Christmas and Easter are always big times of year, for those of us in the choir, I think our year tends to culminate in the Favorite Anthems Concert.  The weeks leading up to the Favorite Anthems concert this year were scattered with surgeries, stumbles, and even falls, and I mean that literally - physical falls, with ambulances and everything!  Every little glitch added to the stress and worry that our director, Kay, always feels at this time of year.  Kay, to all of our benefit, can be a *bit* of a perfectionist, so just imagine someone with very high standards trying to create an hour of perfection (twice!) with 70 or so individuals with all manner of personal factors at play!  Fortunately, in spite of any physical or mental factors, all of us unite spiritually when it comes to performing the music.  The 15th annual Favorite Anthems concert was, as always, a success.   The house was packed and the energy was high. 

How could anyone not be mesmerized by Fred Fox and Joel Pierce’s finger dance as they played their duet on organ and piano?  Furthermore we heard Linda Freeman’s soulful gospel sound during her solo, Katie Sayre and Dick Johnson’s beautifully blended duet, the powerful, harmonious voices of Valley Four Barbershop group, and the sweet, forlorn sound of the women singing Breath of Heaven.  I can’t imagine one person in the audience, no matter their age or hearing, sat perfectly still during Joel Pierce’s jazzy rendition of This Little Light of Mine, and of course throughout we heard the emotional, moving sound of the many choir voices united in song after song.  

This year's Favorite Anthems concert was truly a special time, and I venture even Kay would admit it was worth every bit of the stress!