52nd Annual Community Carol Festival - A wonderful evening of music and fellowship

Pincher Creek Community Choir
C. Davis photos

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Pincher Creek's Community Hall was packed on Sunday evening, December 9 on the occasion of the 52nd Annual Community Carol Festival. Proceeds from the silver collection admission were earmarked for Group Group Youth, which does such a fabulous job all year helping young people in the community.

Jackie Therriault on organ and Brenda Squair on piano set the tone as people found their seats. Caroline Johnson acted as Master of Ceremonies, welcoming the crowd and introducing the performers. 

Pincher Creek Community Choir,

After an inspiring version of 'O Come all Ye Faithful' and 'Bring Us Peace' by the large and profound Pincher Creek Community Choir Claire Johnson and Elise Wocknitz read The Story of Christmas from the gospel. 

Canyon School Choir

The Canyon School Choir was up next, performing 'A Christmas Wish' and the fun 'Dealing with the Reindeer'. Delightful. They were followed by the Matthew Halton/Fort Macleod Band, who were situated at the back of the hall. That made for an awkward line of sight, but the lower ceiling there seemed to have a nice affect on their sound. They played imaginative and powerful renditions of 'Polar Bear Express' and 'Ukrainian Bell Carol'. 

Alexandra Morgan

Then it was back to the Community Choir leading a rendition of 'Joy to the World', followed by Alexandra Morgan's fabulous solo of 'O Holy Night'. My that young lady's voice has grown!

Rocky Mountain Fiddlers

The Community Choir performed 'Christmas Time', and then the Rocky Mountain Fiddlers did their lively thing. Dana Connely sang a couple of pretty and gentle pieces with Dan Skierka, and then the choir led the crowd in 'Angels We Have Heard on High'.

The Crowsnest Pass Community Choir performed 'A Winter Night' and the sprightly 'Jamaican Noel'. The Matthew Halton/Fort Macleod Band performed 'Divinum', a moving and melodic piece. 

Matthew Halton/Fort Macleod Band

Brent Woodard temporarily took over the microphone from Caroline Johnson. "As a committee we wanted to have a moment of appreciation for Caroline," he said, "Because Caroline has been a part of the Carol Festival since 1966. She's conducted many choirs, many school choirs, a band, she conducted the community mass choir for a number of years, and then a few years ago when the Cultural Affairs Committee no longer organized the Carol Festival... it looked like the leadership was going to fall apart and the end was there. And Caroline... well, she organized the committee to keep the Carol Festival running, she chaired it for a number of years, and she stepped down last year. If it wasn't for Caroline this Carol Festival, which is a beautiful old-fashioned thing for a small town to do, might have ended. So we really want to appreciate Caroline Johnson tonight for keeping it going, for all the work she has done, and for being who she is."

The evening ended with the Community Choir singing 'Mary Go Tell It' before leading the hall in the final song of the evening, 'Silent Night', which sounded as beautiful and soulful as can be.

Community Choir Director Diane Smith did an incredible job of leading the choir members through some tricky arrangements, and Accompanist Bessie Carlson was spot-on.

Kathy Brown and Brenda Squair led the Canyon School Choir, who were impeccable. Kathy Brown also led the Crowsnest Pass Community Choir, with the help of accompanist Pam Somerville. Matthew Halton/Fort Macleod Band Director Rick Bullock has forged that band into something special.