Singing in the season

Anyone wanting to park closer than a block away needs to arrive at the Madison-Mayodan Recreation Center at least an hour ahead of Saturday’s 11 a.m. start time for the Fellowship Choir’s annual Christmas program.

“This is one program that the whole community looks forward to every year,” said recreation department director Wendy Veach. “The crowds just seem to grow bigger every year.”

While the attraction could be the delightful songs and humorous antics of the vocalists and musicians, it could just as easily be the refreshments and free poinsettias. Saturday’s festivities begin at 10:30 a.m. with plenty of delicious refreshments and conclude after the concert with the distribution of poinsettias for everyone in attendance.

But like the number of people attending the annual Christmas musical, the size of the M-M Fellowship Choir has grown every year.

Choir director Faye Webster said the group grew out of an adult music theory class of 11 students she taught through Rockingham Community College more than 20 years ago. She had the students doing a little singing as a practical demonstration of what they were learning, and that soon led to the class being more singing than anything else.

From that first group of 11 students, the choir now numbers about 50 members. While the majority of the choir’s membership falls into the 55-or-older senior category, Webster says that’s not a requirement.

“It’s not really just for seniors,” she said. “But retired people are the main ones who are able to get away two hours every Wednesday morning for rehearsals.”

The Fellowship Choir meets from 9-11 a.m. on Wednesdays at the Recreation Center. Although practices and performances take place in Mayodan, the choir itself has members from across the county.

Saturday’s presentation, entitled “Christmas is a Birthday,” begins with some a few fun songs like “We Love You Christmas,” “The Christmas Tree Feud” and “Away from the Mistletoe,” and a reading of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

The traditional choral cantata includes such familiar selections as “O Holy Night,” “The Birthday of a King” and “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” One addition to this year’s program is a dramatic section featuring the Innkeeper, Mary and the Shepherds.

“They will have some dialogue and several solos,” Webster said. “We like to add a little something different every year to keep interesting for the choir and the audience.”

Providing additional support for Webster’s keyboard accompaniment will be a five-piece band consisting of Glenn Joyce, Jack O’Neal, Burton Thomas, Keith Webster and Jimmie Webster.

For additional information on Saturday’s concert or the M-M Fellowship Choir, contact the Madison-Mayodan Recreation Center at (336) 548-2789.