Artist Spotlight - Northern Choral Society
It is truly our pleasure to introduce our final 2022 Artist Spotlight, Northern Choral Society. After a three year hiatus due to the pandemic, it’s exciting to see this large local Christmas production return to Watertown. This year’s theme is the “Voices of Christmas” and will include a wide range of contemporary and classical music.
Northern Choral Society started in 1954 as an inauguration for the new pipe organ at Asbury United Methodist Church. Though it was meant to be a one-time concert, its success spurred an annual tradition that evolved into what it is today. This year the concert will be held on Saturday, December 3rd at 3 PM and Sunday, December 4th at 3 PM at Asbury United Methodist Church.
This year’s music director is Sara Gleason, who has been directing since 2010. Sara is currently a music instructor at Belleville-Henderson School. The organist will be Carl Bingle who has filled this role for the past 45 years. Carl is the organist at First Presbyterian church, which is where the rehearsals have taken place.
Mrs. Gleason said that this year they will have about 70 singers from Jefferson and Lewis County that range in age from 17 to 87, and they were excited to see some fresh faces. Northern Choral Society participants have 10 weeks to prepare a concert that features the chorus alongside a brass quintet, percussionists, a childrens’ choir directed by Marietta Kitto, handbell ringers called the River Ringers directed by Jenny Whitenack, and organ played by Mr. Bingle.
This event is made possible by the participants, the directors, the board of directors (including former members), and especially the audiences who allow this event to continue each year. If you are looking to participate next year, be sure to visit their website below and sign up for their email list so that you can learn when rehearsals will be held. Sara encourages participants to join “even if you haven’t sung since high school.”
Those who attend will also have an opportunity to sing familiar carols along with the performers. The concert will be on Saturday, December 3rd, 2022 at 3 PM and Sunday, December 4th, 2022 at 3 PM at Asbury United Methodist Church. Tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for senior citizens, and $8 for children and students 18 and under. For those that struggle to find parking, there will be shuttle buses departing from City Hall and First Presbyterian Church.
