(828) 526-0173 | [email protected] | Copyright 2024 – All Rights Reserved.
Music of our Heritage
Written By: Wiley Sloan | Issue: 2018/11 - November
For the past 24 years talented singers from throughout the area have joined together as the Highlands Community Chorale to celebrate the music of Christmas.
This year’s chorale will present the music of our heritage here in the mountains from the Carolinas to Virginia, Kentucky, and Georgia.
Chorale conductor Les Scott says, “‘An Appalachian Christmas’ features music that reveals the richness of the songs and stories that lie beneath our feet right here in Highlands. Woven into the performance are songs and readings that celebrate the rich history of the Appalachian culture that surrounds us. You’ll hear songs of this region – some familiar and some so old they have almost been forgotten.”
Come celebrate the music of Christmas with the Chorale on Saturday, December 8, at 5:00 P.M. or on Sunday, December 9, at 5:00 P.M. (a reception follows this performance) at the Highlands United Methodist Church located at 315 Main Street in the heart of downtown. The sanctuary will be filled with the melody of Christmas songs, old and new. Many of you were a part of the standing room-only crowd that heard the Chorale in 2012 when they presented the first “An Appalachian Christmas.”
Enjoy familiar favorites, as well as forgotten gems like “Christmas Time’s A ’Coming” and “The Blessings of Mary.” Fiddles, dulcimers, mandolin and more will add to the richness of the music. Many of these songs were collected by John Jacob Niles, a prolific folklorist who captured the beauty of the music of this area.
The Highlands Community Christian Chorale was formed 24 years ago. Leadership of the chorale traditionally rotates among the churches in Highlands. The host church each year provides not only the venue, but its choir director, support for the rehearsals, and a reception following the Sunday concert. Be prepared to share a small donation to help the chorale offset the cost of music. Come and be blessed by this special event.
