KINGWOOD — The Preston County Community Choir is practicing for its annual Christmas concert, according to choir co-director Wayne Williams.
Williams said choir performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, at the Kingwood Baptist Church, and 7 p.m. Sunday at the Terra Alta First United Methodist Church.
The choir was established in 1970 by Vivian McConnell. At that time, it was known as the Terra Alta-Aurora Community Choir.
“I’ve been with it since its inception,” Williams said. “When Vivian retired, she asked me to take over.”
Susan Williams, who also sings with the choir, said the Christmas Choir is presented in two parts. She said the first half is sacred songs and the second half is secular Christmas songs.
Wayne said each year they throw in a few songs for fun.
“We try to do something to take people by surprise. One year we did the march of the wooden soldiers,” he said. “We had an 8-year-old dress up like a wooden soldier and march down the aisle. He marched around me and back. Just as he got to the door the song was over. It was a hit.”
Williams is proud of the people in the choir.
“These people can do anything. We have the best accompaniment there is in Mr. Kent Pomeroy. Shauna Bloom, (a teacher at Preston High School) co-director of the choir, does the Rowlesburg River City Festival and the Buckwheat Chorus.”
Williams said he would like to have more people from around the county join the choir.
“It was initially the Terra Alta-Aurora Chorus. Now there is no one from Aurora in it.”
Susan Williams said she wants the choir to be a welcoming, fun place.
“These people do a good job. This year we are ready to go,” she said. “That doesn’t always happen.”
Anyone interested in joining the choir can call 304-789-6871.
