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A Cappella To Present 92nd Vespers Performance

The Jamestown High School Madrigal Singers gave a performance of “Coventry Carol” at a recent meeting of the Jamestown Board of Education in honor of the upcoming 92nd A Cappella Vespers beginning on Sunday. P-J photo by Katrina Fuller

Bringing tradition and music together, the Jamestown A Cappella Choir will perform the 92nd Vespers performance this Sunday.

The time-honored performance began in 1924 and has continued all the way up until today, said Norm Lydell, alumnus and current choir director. The performance will be held, as always, at the First Lutheran Church adjacent to Jamestown High School at 4 p.m., and a second performance will be held on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 4 p.m.

Lydell said the community looks forward to the concert as it helps to usher in the holiday season.

“It’s grand we still continue to have a high school choir that continues to perform at First Lutheran,” he said. “This year, our major work is the Schubert Mass in G. It features not only the choir, but solos as well. It’s a piece that is ideal for this time of the year, and it is in Latin.”

Lydell said it is not an easy piece of music, but the students are up for the challenge. Aside from the main A Cappella Choir pieces, the Ladies of Today will feature two special pieces, one of which requires two pianos and another in which 12 of the Men of Tomorrow will play hand chimes.

Lydell said it is especially exciting to have Brian Bogey, director emeritus, accompany the group. He said Bogey is much more than a pianist and organist, but is a stronghold of knowledge and guidance. Not only does Bogey help guide the students, but also Lydell himself on occasion.

Matthew Myers will also play accompaniment for a few songs.

There are no tickets, however, a free will offering will be taken in the middle of the performance.

On Saturday, Lydell said the choir will be featured on the Saturday Morning Breakfast Club at Friendly’s at 9 a.m. The program is a radio show featured on WJTN with Dennis Webster, whom Lydell said is the choir’s “biggest fan.” WJTN has always supported the choir, Lydell said.

“The neat thing is we started out in the same year,” he said. “WJTN started in 1924 and we had our first Vespers in 1924.”

Lydell said he hopes the traditional Vespers service will provide a sense of security in the holiday season.

“We will be back every year,” Lydell said. “A lot of change is happening in the community, but this is here to stay. We hope there is a feeling of security that we will be here every year.”

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