Christmas Wonderland in Nevada becomes real
When the Community Choir, led by Wes Morton, steps on-stage at the Fox Theater on Friday and Saturday night or Sunday afternoon the title of their program comes to life. The concert is truly a Christmas wonderland.
The choir, with more than 50 singers, portrays the real meaning of community. Two high school girls stand near a white-haired retired surgeon. A mother and daughter share the musical score as they sing side by side. Professional musicians join voices with those who just love to sing, but have no special training. Members of many local church choirs enjoy singing the Christmas songs with those from other denominations. And the community reaches beyond the Nevada city limits to include performers from our county towns.
The Christmas Spirit is very evident as the gaily clad Choir opens the program with Katie Bond's excellent solo, backed up by the skilled accompaniment of Rhonda Leonard at the piano. The singers show the joy of the songs as they keep their eyes on the director, Wes Morton, and return his encouraging smiles.
When the audience opens the programs to the center section for the details of the performance, the Christmas Spirit is enhanced with the illustrations and the fact that Wes Morton and Rhonda Leonard used the spot usually saved for the biographies of the stars, to express their appreciation for the sponsors, Curtis and Sons Realty, and to the hard work of the 53 choir members who have met weekly all fall to achieve the high quality of the performance.
Wes Morton privately expressed his enjoyment of working with this group. He said it brought back fond memories of previous concerts and other performers from the past.
Traditional Christmas carols are included in the program, but there are also less well known songs; a hilarious take-off of the "Twelve Days of Christmas," and some other light hearted salutes to the season.
Teresa Sword, who has conducted some of the community choirs concerts herself, lent her talents as a soloist, as well as adding a flute accompaniment to several songs. She said she enjoys being part of the performing group this time.
Grace Keefhaver's sentimental solo of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" brought back tender memories. Tim Wilson's solo, before the intermission, left the audience in a jolly mood and eager to come back for more.
In the second half of the program Nancy Jeffries and Darcie Arnold capably soloed with the choir background. "Away in a Manger" was sung to an older tune which some of the audience members will appreciate hearing again.
The theme song of the evening, "Christmas in a Small Town" was dedicated to Chuck Nash who often has sung in the community choir and had begun rehearsals for this performance but could not continue due to a broken hip. His appreciation for his adopted "home town" of Nevada makes this tribute to a small town's celebration very appropriate.
"O Holy Night" beautifully ended the performance.
No one can leave "Christmas Wonderland in Nevada" without being full of the Christmas Spirit and being proud of our community that has made such a performance possible. The times for the performance are 8 p,m, on Friday and Saturday nights and 2 p,m, on Sunday afternoon. Admission is $6 for all ages.