COAL TOWNSHIP - When the Anthracite Choraliers take the stage for their 37th annual spring concert Sunday, they will be expressing through several selections their grateful appreciation to public servants, veterans and present military personnel for the roles they play in protecting the lives and freedom of our nation and its people.
Appearing at Shamokin Area Middle/Senior High School auditorium for the 2:30 p.m. concert, the 50-member chorus will present a diversified program of sacred, spiritual and patriotic music. The concert will be under the direction of Nan Weller, a retired music education teacher in the Shamokin Area School District. Bonnie Klinger, also a retired music educator in the same district, will again serve as piano accompanist.
In keeping with its tradition, the Choraliers are again including in the concert a tribute to people in the community and nation who serve as police officers, firefighters, ambulance personnel and those who have served or now are serving in the armed forces. One of the selections is entitled "Song for the Unsung Hero." A PowerPoint presentation that was created by Kim Heitzman will be screened during the choral number.
Two other numbers geared to the same theme will be "He's Gone Away" by the ladies' chorus and "The Navy Hymn" by the men's chorus.
Other selections in the first half are "A Mighty Fortress," "Ezekiel Saw the Wheel," "Be Still and Know" and "An American Folksong Spectacular." Specialty numbers during the first half will be presented by Jim Johnson, who will sing "I Believe," and Bob Zedanowich, whose solo is entitled "All of a Sudden My Heart Sings."
The second half, which will feature choral and solo selections from a number of Broadway hits, will begin with the lively number, "It Don't Mean a Thing," followed by "Season of Love" from the Broadway musical "Rent," featuring a solo part by Amber Madden; "The Music of the Night" from the award-winning musical, "Phantom of the Opera," with a solo part by Valentine Mountjoy; "Play for Me a Simple Melody," "Little Boy Lost," "I Can't Give You anything But Love," "Soon It's Gonna Rain," from the long-running Broadway musical "The Fantasticks," and "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat," from the hit musical "Guys and Dolls," with Ensinger as soloist, Two specialty numbers will be by Mary Hollingshead and Dave Kopitsky, singing "Kids," from the musical "Bye, Bye Birdie," and Cailin Wilson singing, "On My Own," from the musical "Les Miserables."
Since 1976, when the chorus were formed to provide musical selections during the community's observance of America's bicentennial, the organized choral group has continued to provide two outstanding concerts each year, one at Christmas and the other during the spring months. Weller, the original director of the Choraliers, now alternates with Ensinger in that professional role.
Many of the concerts were held at the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, but the larger auditorium at the middle and senior high school has been selected because it offers more stage room for the expanded number in the chorus. Ample parking was another reason for the move. The price of admission is still $5, which is earmarked for purchase of music and other expenses.
The chorus practices every Tuesday evening from January to early May for the spring concert and from September to early December for its Christmas concert.
Members of the Choraliers are:
Soprano: Pat Albright, Carol Ellis, Chris Hastings, Kim Heitzman, Mary Hollingshead, Kelly Jones, Angela Kuhns, Amber Madden, Valentine Mountjoy, Barbara Moyer, Norma Moyer, Ann Nowaskie, Sarah Purcell, Lisa Romanoski, Pat Romanoski, Cookie Schlader, Grace Shaffer, Sherri Shebelsky, Susan Shoop, Nedra Templar, Clara Weikel and Cailin Wilson.
Alto: Christine Backes, Beverly Cooper, Mary Alice Garrity, Maxine Harvey, Carole Kaseman, Tiffany Kaseman, Pat Klemick, Linda Latsha, Ruth Paul, Peggy Prezlomski, Martha Jane Scholl, Virginia Sinclair, Carol Tarlecki, Carolyn Weaver, Gail Whitley and Mary Wydra.
Tenor: Harry Deitz, Morris Gard, Jim Johnson, Dave Kopitsky, Jim Krebs and Bob Zedanowich.
Bass: Ben Anderson, Rob Ensinger, Bob Kline, Jake Ozga, Richards Parsons and Dan Schwalm.