RR Community Choir set to ring in holiday season with concerts

Ken Johnston
Editor

The sounds of the season are only a week away as the Rainy River Community Choir prepares for its 9th annual Christmas concert tour.
The first performance will take place December 3, 2002 in Pinewood at the Catholic Church. That will be followed by one in Fort Frances at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Dec. 6th and Rainy River at the Catholic Church on Dec. 10th.
Choir director Stephanie Hawkins said this year’s concerts will feature a mix of traditional carols like Silent Night to Multi-cultural carols.
There will also be several guest musicians featured. 18 year old Melinda Hawkins will be playing the conga drums as part of an African Christmas Carol. She will also play bells, tambourine and the keyboard.
Rainy River’s own Kitty Gale and Jacquie Dufresne will be making appearances on the flute and keyboard at Rainy River and Pinewood.
In Fort Frances Katherine Williams from Emo will be playing the violin. Janet Pederson of Baudette will be playing the violin in Rainy River and Pinewood.
Jean Heard of Rainy River will be accompanying the choir for the rest of their numbers on the keyboard.
The choir is 32 members strong this year with a wide range of ages. “There are some that are 10 and some that are seniors,” said Hawkins.
There will be solos by Norma-Jean Johnston, Jeff Fraser and Heidi Ivall; all of Rainy River. There will also be a trio featuring Shauna McInnerney, Maureen Downs and Anne Mailloux; also all of Rainy River.
In addition to the music there will also be several biblical readings throughout the program.
Tickets for the shows are available at RR Drugs, Emo Library and Fort Frances Library.
“This is a good way to relax and focus on the true meaning of Christmas,” concluded Hawkins.