Published: December 01, 2007 10:43 pm            

Local choir to sing at State Capitol

Stillwater Honor Choir has accepted an invitation to perform at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City on Monday as part of the annual Governor’s Christmas Tree Lighting event.

Approximately 2,000 children from across the state are expected to attend this year.

Participating schools will be asked to decorate one of many small Christmas trees that remain on display in the Capitol through the holiday season. While decorating, children and teachers have the opportunity to hear and watch music, dance and storytelling groups sponsored by the Stillwater Arts Council. It is during this time that the Stillwater Honor Choir will perform.

Stillwater Honor Choir, under the direction of Julia Haley and Trish Ranson, will sing traditional carols from around the world including, “He is Born, the Holy Child,” and 18th century French carol, and “Christ Child Lullaby,” a North Hebrides folk melody. The children will also perform a humorous musical version of “The Night Before Christmas.”

The Stillwater Honor Choir program consists of 60 singers in grades three through divided into two choirs: a Preparatory Choir and a Concert Choir. The Concert Choir is conducted by Haley, associate professor of music education at Oklahoma State University. The Preparatory Choir is led by Ranson, elementary music specialist in the Stillwater Public Schools.

The choir staff also includes two pianists, Mark Lawlor, OSU faculty, and Rachel Welch, OSU student, and two OSU music education interns, Rene Mead and Melodie Cooper.

In addition to the Governor’s Tree Lighting, Stillwater Honor Choir will present a concert in Stillwater Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Seretean Center at OSU. Its final concert of the season will be Saturday for the annual Stillwater Festival of Trees.

        

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