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Sharing Music And Holiday Fun With Addison County Gospel Choir

photo by Keith Darwin No holiday is complete without lights, friends and voices raised in song. The Addison County Gospel Choir agrees with this and is out bringing cheer and song to gatherings all over the county.

photo by Cookie Steponaitis Whether it was the fun of the SD Ireland truck decked out with lights, the songs or the snow, people gathered to see the Lighting of the Park in Vergennes and to hear the beautiful songs of the Addison County Gospel Choir.

Tuesday December 16, 2014

By Cookie Steponaitis

The movement of people in the park was slightly discernible in the fading light of a Vermont winter night and there was a nip in the air and a blast of Arctic wind that occasionally blew the small patches of snow around your feet. Suddenly the voice of Little City Mayor Bill Benton came over a loud speaker and asked all present to count down, “5-4-3-2-1,” and with the flick of a switch the park lit up the trees and their limbs encased in white lights and from the bandstand came the beautiful sound of voices raised in song and another holiday season was officially underway.
    Singing, for the Addison County Gospel Choir dates back not only to holiday seasons of the past but was actually a Field Days tradition when there was always a hymn sing-along on opening night. Many of the different churches and interested people took the lead in this annual event, but in the early 1990’s a committee of local people coordinated the group and moved it forward.  “I believe Bill and Carleen Telgen were involved, as well as Faye Leavitt, who put together a choir and some instruments to lead singing at Field Days,” explained Addison County Gospel Choir member Suzanne Rood. “I was the pianist at that event and also sang in the choir for a few years for what we called ‘Gospel Night’ at Field Days. Faye led the choir for several years and also expanded the idea to include a performance during the Christmas Season at the Vergennes Opera House.” Rood took over the lead volunteer position in 2006 and was charged with putting together a choir and accompanying band consisting of piano, guitar, bass, and drums. “We have continued the Christmas performances as well and are invited to different churches in the area,” explained Rood “We have sung Christmas Carols at the Lighting of the Green since 2006 and look forward to it each year.”
    The group rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 7-9 p.m. at the Christian Reformed Church in Vergennes and meets October through December and May through August using the October and November rehearsals to prepare for the holiday season and May through August rehearsals to focus on the fall performances in August. “The group averages about thirty singers during the Christmas season but in the summer their ranks grow to fifty. The choir features a capella music for the holiday season which allows them to be more portable as a group. For the summer which includes our Field Days performance as well as several area churches, the group has a keyboard, guitar, bass, drums and sound equipment to set up.” Rood explained that they try to choose a mix of gospel styles for the choir and traditional spirituals, contemporary worship songs and old-fashioned hymns are included. Rood states that she “is always on the lookout for choir pieces that will work well for our group throughout the year and sometimes I'll arrange a song to suit our style. This coming summer will be my tenth year and I have joked with the choir about going back through the files and doing our favorites, calling it our ‘Greatest Hits’ tour.”
    Upcoming concerts will be held on Sunday, December 7 at the Assembly of God Christian Center in Ferrisburgh, 6 p.m.; Saturday, December 13 at the Panton Community Baptist Church, 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 14th at the Champlain Valley Christian Reformed Church in Vergennes, 7 p.m. There are plenty of chances for the community to come and see the group perform and perhaps consider joining. “What makes our singing group fun is getting to know folks from other churches,” shared Rood. “We had fifteen different churches represented this summer and this is a way to bring us all together to sing about the love and grace of Christ. We laugh together at rehearsals and try to keep things lighthearted when mistakes are made. It's not about being perfect musicians although we try to do our best, but it's about fellowship and bringing the different churches together. Members range from middle schoolers to senior adults and Addison County Gospel Choir prides itself on having teens, octogenarians and everyone in between. Some can read music and others learn by listening to their part being sung. Anyone who loves to sing is welcome to join, there are no auditions,” concluded Rood, “and you don't have to be part of any particular church. If you are willing to sing about Jesus with a smile on your face, we will take you!”
As people moved around the park, some paused to admire the JD Ireland’s decorated lit truck and others stood at the Nativity as sounds of the season filled their hearts and minds. Children scampered about with icicles in their hands and voices were raised in song and sharing with everyone present the gift of music and the holiday spirit, “We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

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