Achill Choral is a quarter century strong; concert a must-see!
By Anne Ritchie

Had you been fortunate enough to be a listener at St. James Church this past Sunday, you'd have been doubly blessed. For adding to the joy of the Achill Choral concert with Silver Sounds of Christmas, we celebrate 25 years of glorious song. The silver anniversary brings forth the originality, style, and pure talent of a little choir that grew to become a landmark in the cultural community.

A Little Light Was Born introduces the evening, touched with the humor of conductor A Dale Wood. According to the program, Wood kept a small box on the piano during practices, and everyone who sang during the rest had to cough up cash to put in the box. The lively melody had listeners smiling, and is proof that money may not only talk, but it can provoke a joyful song. The selections covered a range of voices, rhythms, and style. Oh Tannabaum resounded with the harmony of deep male voice while Susan Verduin's Silent Night, with a voice as bright as the Bethlehem star stilled the audience with wonder. Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day, an old English carol sung a capella with a finger-snapping rhythm, surpassed expectations while a refrain from The Little Cradle Rocks Tonight in Glory, He's calling you to glory, could have described the choir as it launched into the all-time favorite, O Holy Night.

There is all of Christmas in this concert: the excitement of a special gift, the reverence for spiritual classics, the joys of meeting a beloved favorite and the wonder of discovering something new, wrapped with joy, presented with love. The audience, too, has occasion to give, and delightedly took a turn, giving their enthusiasm in a resounding chorus of Christmas song.

That "special gift," perhaps the most exciting part of the evening, completed the evening. On This Day Earth Shall Ring, the world premiere of a cantata commissioned by Achill, composed by conductor A. Dale Wood filled the cathedral with its glorious beauty. Within the brilliant composition, listeners could sense the commanding tones of the archangel Gabriel announcing the birth of the Messiah, the reverence of the Virgin Mary, the exultation of angels, the strength and faith of kings, and the wonder of He is Christmas, with magnificent solos by Maria Cappiello, Cathy Clark, and Sunyatta Guild.

Just as each choir member in full voice gave their best, Wood offered the best gift he had for the evening. The gift was wrapped in the accompaniment of Christopher Dawes, one of Canada's leading organists and church musicians. Wood received a bouquet of roses from an equally talented artist, lifetime member Alice Forestell.

The Silver Sounds of Christmas is not only a gift to be cherished and enjoyed for the season, it enfolds the talents of 25 seasons memorializing the greatest event of all seasons, the birth of Christ the King.

If you have not had opportunity to receive this gift, a final concert takes place Sunday, Dec. 2, at 2 p.m., at Christ Church Anglican in Bolton. Tickets are available at Village Allsorts in Tottenham, Let's Decorate, Bolton BookLore and Karsten Jewellers in Orangeville, Jelly Craft Bakery in Shelburne, and Papermoon Gallery and Loft of Books in Alliston. Call 519-925-3765 or 905-880- 8622 for information.

Have yourself the merriest Christmas, from Achill Choral to you.