JHS A Cappella Choir to Host In-Person Vespers Performances | News, Sports, Jobs

Jamestown High School Madrigal Singers after their holiday performance for the Norden Women’s Club at Moonbrook Country Club. Photo submitted

The First Lutheran Church sanctuary will once again be filled with A Cappella songs, new and old.

This year, the Jamestown High School A Cappella Choir will host in-person performances of their annual Vespers Concert. Last year, a virtual presentation was made. This year, performances are scheduled for December 12 and 19 at 4 p.m.

However, in-person attendance will be limited to those with tickets, which will be paid to choir members for their guests.

These arrangements have been put in place due to seating capacity and safe distancing requirements.

The district will stream the events live beginning at 4 p.m. during each performance at jpsny.org/acappella.

Choir director Lauren Scharf said she was happy to see the show can once again take place in person.

“I am extremely excited” she said. “I think Vespers is such a personal experience, and I think so many people…have ties and ties to this concert that it’s really important that it be performed in front of an audience because so many people have this personal connection to it I think it’s meant to be shared with the community and meant to be played in person, in that space and in that place where you get that big reverb and that great musical sound with the audience feedback all right now.

Scharf said the students were also excited to perform in front of a live audience again. She said the seniors are also happy to have one more chance to perform at Vespers as a member of the choir.

“Especially the students who had the opportunity to perform at Vespers 2019 for the 95th anniversary”, she said. “These students were in grade 10 when they performed this concert – now they are seniors who can perform in person again, but also for the last time, so it’s really special for them.”

Music offerings include traditional favorites including “Kyrie Elison” “Silent Night” and “The First Christmas,” as good as “Come Veni, Emmanuel,” and “When the stars were shining.” This year’s choir has over 70 members and will be accompanied by Julie Livengood and director emeritus Brian Bogey will be the organist for the events.

Scharf said New York state education law requires all students to be masked during the performance. In addition, participants will also be asked to wear masks. Social distancing will be respected for both artists and spectators.

Scharf added that the choir is also exploring a digital way to collect donations, due to the pandemic.

“I just want to thank the community for their continued support of this program,” she said. “It means so much to so many people in this community. We are always very grateful for the number of people who have come and continue to support the A Cappella choir even after this pandemic and after graduating. We really appreciate that.”