With Christmas just around the corner, people may be busy shopping and preparing for the big day. But, a local group has one more chance to get into the Christmas spirit.
The Athens County Community Singers will be performing their first-annual Christmas concert this year.
The Athens County Community Singers is a non-profit organization, and is described as a choir “for all voices.” Stephanie Morris, a music therapist, started this group in the fall of 2011 and it was known as the ATCO Vocal Choir.
ATCO is a non-profit center that trains people with disabilities for employment. But now, Morris said the choir has changed names and is open to all community members.
“The idea of expanding this to a community choir is to invite those who have disabilities and those who don’t have disabilities to be a part of this group,” Morris said. “So, our focus has changed from just individuals with disabilities to those all through out the community.”
The choir itself is a non-profit organization, but is contracting with Central Ohio Music Therapy.
“We’ve done Christmas concerts in the past,” Morris said “But this time will be the first time to have a Christmas concert all to ourselves.”
Last year the Athens County Community singers did a joint concert with the SATB choir, another community chorus.
A ten-dollar donation is suggested upon admission to the concert. The ten-dollar donation allows the Central Ohio Music Therapy and ATCO to benefit from the donations.
“I’m very excited for this concert,” Morris said. “ It’s going to be a great time.”
There will be many familiar Christmas carols such as “Joy to the World,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and many more. There will also be a sing-a-long during the concert for the crowd to join in.
If You Go:
What: Athens County Community Singers first-annual Christmas concert
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: ARTS/West, 132 W. State St.
Admission: $10 donation suggested
ag836912@ohiou.edu
@annachristine38
