CANAAN, VERMONT

Celebrating a thirty-year tradition, a special concert will be held on Sunday afternoon, December 11th, at 4:00 pm. Hosted at the centrally located Grace Community Church in Canaan, Vermont, and directed by Sharon Pearson, the performance will be the result of several weeks of dedicated efforts by over 40 individual singers and dancers from throughout the area.

The music program will launch the Christmas season and also demonstrate the renewal of this concert series. Three decades ago, members of all area church choirs joined together to celebrate the season through music. The Reverend Granvyl Hulse was a driving force behind the initiative, and an inspiration to following generations despite diminishing memberships and congregations. In recent years, the annual, ecumenical Palm Sunday and Christmas concerts were both suspended as choir participation and audiences also declined. Re-launched at a neutral central location has proven successful with two past Christmas concerts and an Easter season concert, this month's event carries that same seasonal spirit and hope for continued growth.

The young sacred dancers of Grace will open the concert, followed by solo and small group songs shared by some of the area's veteran vocalists. Conducted by Harry "Bud" Hikel and accompanied by Ms. Pearson, the North Country Community Chorus portion will include an impressive variety of pieces, from deeply-moving Christmas carols to toe-tapping ballads. The show includes a very traditional community sing along of well known Christmas songs.

There is no charge for the concert, and the audience will be invited to celebrate with the musicians at the reception following the postlude. Updated information will be available on Facebook at GraceCommunityChurchVT