Copper Country Chorale to present Christmas concerts CHASSELL ’Äì A musical group that has been rooted in the area for many Christmases past once again adds melodies to the season. In the next two weeks the Copper Country Chorale, with about thirty members this year, will present three Christmas Favorites concerts featuring carols and songs chosen by the Chorale members in a special ballot. The first performance is slated for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30, at the South Range Apostolic Lutheran Church. The Chorale’Äôs second concert will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, at First United Methodist Church in Hancock. Finally, they will perform during "An Old-Fashioned Christmas," at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, at St. Anne’Äôs Church in Chassell. Chorale Director Charles White said that the process they used to decide what to sing was different this year. The group read and sang every piece of music from the repertoire of pieces sung in their previous Christmas concerts and then voted on them. The selections receiving the most votes were chosen for their three upcoming Christmas concerts. "It’Äôs a very comfortable program, hand-picked by the Chorale members themselves," White said. The group will be singing mostly modern church hymns, he noted, although some are traditional and one is secular. The selections include Venezuelan music, music by Randall Thompson, J. S. Bach and an "Ave Maria" by Franz Bieble. Dan Maki, a Chorale member for almost 30 years, said the Bieble "Ave Maria" received the most votes from members. "That’Äôs a beautiful ’ÄòAve Maria,’Äô" said Maki, who sings in the baritone section. "That’Äôs one of my favorites from this concert." Maki said some of his other favorites that the Chorale will perform this year are J. S. Bach’Äôs "Sheep May Safely Graze" and Ralph Vaughn Williams’Äô "The Christmas Hymn." Local musician and director Charles White and his wife Kirsten have been involved with the Chorale since 1993. Charles has been directing the Chorale since then and said that they "have done a lot of music since." White said while he didn’Äôt think the singers would choose some of the songs they did, he really likes to listen to them "progress in their long term development ’Äì improving their abilities as well as learning new pieces." Kirsten White, a member of the alto section, said, "I just really like to sing ’Äì to be in a larger group and listen to the different harmonies." Tickets for the Copper Country Chorale’Äôs Christmas Favorites concerts are available from South Range Apostolic Lutheran Church, First United Methodist Church in Hancock, from Chorale members or at the door. - Jennifer Drewyor November 29, 2000