Arts & Entertainment
LOCAL CHOIRS AND MUSICIANS "SINGING" IN THE HOLIDAYS!
Annual Community Christmas Chorale, Benicia, CA. Sunday, December 14th, 7 p.m.
Once again, this December, Benicians will have the opportunity to come together for a free event featuring choirs and musicians from local churches as they perform musical numbers celebrating Christmas.
It is an event which was originally inspired by the tragedy of September 11, 2001. At that time, as people were reaching out to comfort one another and as the country was experiencing a special unity born from that historic moment, long-time Benicia resident and community volunteer Elizabeth Murphy suggested to her church leaders the possibility of hosting a community musical event.At this event, congregations from Benicia could come together to share uplifting music which celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ.
Since then, each year in the second week of December, local choirs and musicians have performed various musical numbers at the Community Christmas Chorale.
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“Over the years, five different choirs have participated, along with a number of other musicians, which makes it a really entertaining event,” says Elizabeth Murphy, who currently volunteers at the Camel Barn Museum and State Capitol.
Elizabeth also continues to help with the Community Christmas Chorale each year. King Solomon’s Missionary Baptist Church choir is always a crowd-pleaser as they get the audience up out of their seats to sing along. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church choir has performed in the past and this year will feature Glenn Walp, the band teacher at Benicia Middle School, accompanying on the organ for the Hallelujah Chorus.
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New to participate this year is a Tongan choir from St. Louis Bertrand Catholic Church in Vallejo. While members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints initiated and have hosted the event annually, it is very much a collaborative musical endeavor of many local choirs and musicians.
There are five different church groups slated for this year’s event; however, any church or organization interested in participating may contact Jamie Blomdal (707-745-2501) for more information about performing.
The 2014 Community Christmas Chorale will take place Sunday, December 14th at 7 pm at the chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1125 Southampton Road, Benicia.