SIDNEY — The Christian Academy Schools show choir, Voices Eternal, has a request of area residents: “Let Us Sing for You.”
That’s what the 12-member ensemble has titled its holiday fundraiser. On Dec. 19, the choir will travel throughout Shelby County to sing for people who have booked them to appear.
“If someone would like us to sing for them or their business or a family member in a nursing home, we will go to sing,” said Performance Director Maureen Joines, who teaches music at the school.
Clients can choose from a list of three nontraditional songs and six traditional carols. The fee for one song is $10. The choir will sing four songs for $20, payable at the performance. To schedule an appearance, call Joines at 492-7556 or email [email protected].
Money raised will support the show choir’s expenses to compete in the Heritage Festival in April in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Students are looking forward to the opportunity to sing at various places in the area during the fundraiser.
“Hopefully, we’ll make an impact on (the audience), affect their day,” said Hannah Michael, 16, a junior from Sidney.
The project was the brainchild of Joines and some parents of students.
“We knew we needed to raise money for the competition trip. What better way than to sing?” she said.
To prepare, the students have spent an hour each day rehearsing. Some of the pieces will be sung to recorded accompaniment. Some will be a cappella. They will showcase a bit of what they can provide during the school’s annual Christmas concert, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. Admission to the concert is free.
“There are a lot of fun things about show choir,” said junior Michael Toal, 16, of Sidney. “I like singing. A challenge? That would be the choreography.”
Because the group doesn’t know what kind of spaces they’ll be performing in as they travel from location to location, Dec. 19, the fundraiser appearances will not include choreography. However, the competition piece they’re preparing for April will.
“It’s a challenge to keep everyone in sync,” said Michael. “I mostly enjoy the singing part of it. I learn new songs that I would never hear.”
Joines said that if bookings for “Let Us Sing for You” overlap, the choir may split into two ensembles. If the number of requests warrants it, the singers could add another day to their schedule.
They hope to raise $300 toward the $5,000 cost of the Viriginia trip.
The songs that can be requested are “Sparkle Jolly Twinkle Jingley” from the musical, “Elf”; “Hot Chocolate” from the movie, “The Polar Express”; “Somewhere in My Memory” from the movie, “Home Alone”; “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Silent Night,” “Deck the Halls,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Away in a Manger.”
