THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 8, 1994 TAG: 9412070157
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FRANKLIN LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Talk about your diverse Christmas program, the Franklin Community Chorus is running the gamut from ``Ding Dong! Merrily on High'' to ``The Messiah.''
The free presentation, aptly called ``The Sounds of the Season,'' will be offered Monday at Franklin Baptist Church, part of its Elizabeth Camp Smith Concert Series.
A chorus of 45 from the city and surrounding areas will be accompanied by members of the Virginia Symphony.
It is a major seasonal undertaking, in rehearsal long before the season was in the minds of most people.
``We've been rehearsing since September,'' said Warren Howell, director of the ambitious endeavor.
Parts two and three of ``The Messiah,'' dealing with the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, were performed in Franklin about two years ago as an Easter offering.
Part one, the Christmas section, has been done about 25 times by Gordana Balac.
``I sang it in Yugoslavia with a choir that performed on radio and television,'' she said. ``We were called The Yugoslavian Choir, Radio-Television, Belgrade.''
Balac, who came to the United States six years ago, moved from Franklin to Virginia Beach.
She returns to Franklin regularly to play the organ at St. Jude's Catholic Church and, this season, to lend her alto voice to the Christmas presentation.
Tenor Jeff Fox is also a ``Messiah'' veteran.
``I did it in Wisconsin Rapids where I was a member of First Congregational Church. I was part of the Community Choir there.''
The classical seasonal masterpiece is also part of soprano Sandy Vick's life.
``I've been doing it since I was a high-school freshman,'' the Ivor resident said. ``I look forward to it each year. I never tire of it.
``I used to do it at the Norfolk Arena when high school and church choruses came together. There were hundreds in the orchestra and chorus, thousands in the audience.''
The George Frideric Handel Christmas gift will be presented during the second half of the Franklin Community Chorus program.
Part one of the concert will feature special arrangements of ``Joy to the World,'' ``The Sussex Carol,'' ``Ding Dong! Merrily on High'' and ``Away in a Manger.''
Organist Maureen Howell will perform variations on ``O Come All Ye Faithful.'' MEMO: The Franklin Community Chorus presents ``The Sounds of the Season'' at
7:30 p.m. Monday. The free concert is hosted by Franklin Baptist Church.
No tickets are needed; you may call the church for more information at
562-5135.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by FRANK ROBERTS
Soloist Sandy Vick rehearses excerpts from Handel's ``Messiah'' with
organist Maureen Howell. They will perform Monday during the
Franklin Community Chorus program. by CNB