HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE -- Listed as one of the "25 Things to Love About the Holidays in Hot Springs," Voices Rising, a select vocal ensemble, ushered in the Christmas season for a full house recently at Village Bible Church.
Carols and classic Christmas songs, as well as Spirituals and spoofs, helped put the audience into the spirit of celebration.
Songs such as "Cold Snap" sung by the G.W.E.N.S (Glad We're Not Sopranos) replete with sneezing and coughing on pitch as well as in rhythm, and "Fruitcake" with the entire recipe for that much-love holiday treat were part of the fun of the concert. Solos by Denise Stienhaus, Ruthe Korelitz, and Marc Bremer were crowd favorites. A highlight was the men's quintet with their rendition of "O Come Emmanuel" accompanied by Kathy Oglivey on violin. The arrangement created specifically for Voices Rising featured five-part male harmony and was awe-inspiring.
"We felt this was our best concert ever," Marc Bremer, assistant director, said in a news release. "The variety and difficulty of music made it rewarding for us and our audience, and we look forward to continuing our tradition of a cappella music as well as the incorporation of instruments to provide a quality musical experience for our community."
In addition to the violin, solo guitar music by Terry O'Dell and drums by LeAnn Branch and Carmen Edwards and special piano accompaniment from Donna Toney enriched the sounds of the vocals by the group.
Voices Rising is appreciative of local businesses and individuals who sponsored this concert, members said.
"The support of our community is an integral part of the ability of Voices Rising to provide music in our area," Janis Bremer, publicist and financial officer for the group, said in the release. "Due to our sponsors' belief in us, we are able to provide music for various organizations and churches in Hot Springs and Hot Springs Village as well as our two main concerts each year."
Voices Rising will present its Solstice Concert on Sunday, June 23.
Entertainment on 12/16/2018