All-Ohio Youth Choir returns to Coshocton

| February 4, 2013

COSHOCTON — If winter is getting you down, then the All-Ohio Youth Choir Winter Pops Concert on Feb. 17 is just the remedy to pick you back up. Approximately 160 teen members of the Youth Choir and the Cardinal Chorale will be traveling from all points in Ohio and beyond to Coshocton for their 21st annual reunion concert.

The Winter Pops Concert is sponsored by the Coshocton Community Choir and will be held on Sunday, Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. at Coshocton High School’s McKinley Auditorium located at 1205 Cambridge Road. The All-Ohio Youth Choir is conducted by Charles R. Snyder of Coshocton, and performs at the Ohio State Fair each summer.

“We expect about 160 of the 200 members of the 2012 Youth Choir to be with us for the weekend,” said Snyder. “When you consider that some members are now attending college in other states, some are committed to other school functions, and others have work or family obligations that weekend, it’s remarkable that 80% of the singers are able to rearrange their schedules to be together.”

Each year the Youth Choir works to develop a theme, not only in the selection of music, but also in the living experience at the State Fair. “2012 marked the 50th year the All-Ohio Youth Choir performed at the Ohio State Fair,” explained Snyder. “When I was considering a theme for the summer, ‘Keep the Dream Alive!’ seemed fitting. In addition to celebrating the Choir’s anniversary, the theme is also a salute to America, as well as a plea to keep the arts alive in our schools.”

Snyder says the Choir learned, memorized, polished and performed 71 songs in 106 performances over the 12 days of the State Fair this past summer. “It was a record number of songs for the Choir, and we believe it was also a record number of Fair performances for the group,” he said. “I have programmed 32 of those songs for this concert on Feb. 17. The Coshocton Community Choir – who is sponsoring the event – will join the Youth Choir for another six songs in the concert finale.”

There will be something for every listener: folk songs, sacred songs and spirituals, patriotic songs, pieces from musical theatre, and four songs separately featuring the women and men of the Choir. “Carly Simon’s ‘Let the River Run’ was one of the favorites of the singers and our audiences,” said Snyder. “Other audience favorites will include ‘Mister Sandman,’ ‘Turn Around, Look at Me,’ Michael W. Smith’s ‘Friends,’ and the Choir’s signature song, ‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic.'”

Local singers Emma Brems, Liz Kittner, Alex Lawrence, and Nathan Shutt will be featured soloists. Coshocton County native Sarah Porteus Baker has arranged ‘Together, Wherever We Go’ and several other songs that will be included in the concert.

The Youth Choir will also be singing for the 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 17 worship service at The Coshocton Presbyterian Church, located at 142 North Fourth St. A Youth Choir ensemble will sing at the 8 a.m. mass that day at Sacred Heart Church, 805 Main St. Guests are welcome to attend either service.

Tickets for the All-Ohio Youth Choir “Keep the Dream Alive!” concert are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are available at the door or by calling the Coshocton Community Choir Business Manager, Lee Bown at 622-3960. Tickets and additional information can also be found at www.CoshoctonCommunityChoir.org.

Pre-sale tickets are also available from these outlets: Liberty House in Roscoe Village; Good News Bookstore, Buehlers Foodmarket, and Marilyn’s Natural Foods in Coshocton; Home Loan Savings Bank in West Lafayette and Baker’s Foods in Newcomerstown.

Tags: ,

Category: Arts & Entertainment

About the Author ()

Article contributed to The Beacon.

Comments are closed.