Christmas Card 2011 - Make a Joyful Noise


I'm not really a Christmas person. I have come to the conclusion that Christmas is the one holiday in the year that the cards are stacked against you. Too much money, too much food, too much work, too much decorating, and too much depression as different people come to different ends of impossible trying to achieve the ideal. It's tough, and I have been at the fuzzy end of the lollipop one too many times. But....

If there ever was a season for a joyful noise, Christmas is it. And those of us who live in the Mahoning Valley do our fair share of noise making. So put aside the Christmas drudgery and go buy some gift cards, forget the diet, stop the decorating, and screw unpleasant and difficult family and friends. Sample what this area has to offer. It has an embarrassment of riches. We are so fortunate to have access to some of the best events in Ohio at a level of excellence those of us who live here don't truly appreciate. It doesn't get any better than right here.

This past weekend my wife and I attended Move Over Broadway's production at St. Michael's in Canfield. They offered a chorus of near professional voices which is about as close to perfection as you can get for a contemporary chorus. The blend and musical precision were top notch. I know the audience doesn't appreciate how good this group is, and I am not quite sure the chorus appreciates how good they are. But they memorized and performed flawlessly...get this...27 songs. This is the gold standard...if Henry Mancini were alive he would hire these guys. Mark your calendars for next year!!!!

Last night the Dana School of Music in conjunction with the Stambaugh Auditorium and the Stambaugh Chorus with the Lakeview High School Madrigal Singers offered a boffo performance that rivaled anything you would see in New York City. Its annual Cocoa and Carols event was a 3 hour musical extravaganza that started with cookies and hot chocolate in the ballroom and the moved up to the spectacular and acoustically perfect auditorium. Kathy Miller raged on the mighty Skinner Organ backing up a stage full of musicians and choral members from Dana and the community performing something for everyone. This is the personification of the talent that lives here in the Mahoning Valley. Don't miss it next year.

My Seraphim Chorus, which is pretty good if I do say so myself, is performing all over the Youngstown area over the next two weeks, with its primary performances on December 9 in New Castle and December 11 in Youngstown. The Youngstown Symphony is offering its always spectacular Christmas program on Saturday, December 10, with the DeYor hosting the annual Miracle on Easy Street Christmas Show the weekend of December 16. And on consecutive weekends this December the Oakland offers its wildly popular and uber campy How The Drag Queen Stole Christmas while the Playhouse offers a more traditional musical Christmas Carol. These are just the things that I know about, not counting Manheim Steamroller at the Covelli Center, and whatever might be happening with the Ballet Western Reserve. I am sure it is something wonderful.

It gives hope that even in a period of financial hardship and political uncertainty, this area turns to its strong suit of music and arts to ward off the Christmas doldrum bogeyman. The abundance of unending talent in this area is astounding and a marvel to those who move here. In a very real sense it brings people together to share a common group experience. It collectively uplifts our souls when turmoil may be swirling around us. More importantly, it is real and live...something unusual in this digital and ersatz world.

This year, take some time from the Christmas hum-drum to sample some of what the Mahoning Valley has to offer. Be uplifted. Be inspired. The world won't end if the cookies aren't baked or the presents don't get wrapped. My sincere Christmas wish for you is to go out and experience Christmas rather than try to create it.  By joining hands with strangers to sing Hark the Herald Angels Sing or O Come All Ye Faithful you will feel Christmas...and the rest of the stuff...it won't seem so important.  Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas.

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