The New Carlisle Area Community Chorus is currently in the phase of rehearsing for their big summer concert, set for early June. The free concert is one of the chorus’ capstone performances, and is intended to provide an hour of entertainment, relaxation, and perhaps even some fond memories for those in attendance.
Taylor Ball is the Director of New Carlisle’s Community Chorus, and said that this summer’s performance is “meant to bring great entertainment” to the city while allowing members of the choir to essentially give back to their hometown through the gift of song.
“It’s not often a small town is gifted with such an outstanding group—in my best un-biased opinion—and to be able to ‘come home’ to New Carlisle and engage with our community and laugh and smile and sing together is really special,” Ball said. “I love our group because they really want to give the audience an experience that they can take away when the show is done.”
This summer’s show is titled “Turn Your Radio On—A Gospel Music Celebration,” and will feature familiar favorites and “hymns from the Southern Gospel music tradition,” said Ball. He noted that the performance will also honor other music legends where were influenced by gospel music, such as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. The concert will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Sunday, June 12 at 3 p.m., with a small reception after the show. Admission is free, and a freewill offering will be taken by the choir.
Ball said although he isn’t sure how many of the chorus’ 40-plus members will perform in the summer concert, he noted that he should have a “full group for this event,” adding that they are set to sing 15 selections, including a variety of solos, trios, and quartets.
When asked what the summer concert was intended to bring to the New Carlisle Community, Ball said that was a “deep question” for him, stressing that the chorus’ opportunity to perform for their own friends and neighbors is truly significant.
“It’s about providing a quality show and performing at a high level, but just as important it’s about entertaining!” Ball said. “We may laugh, cry, smile, bring back distant memories, but for an hour you get to relax and connect with some great music. And I think the connection of being with and singing for your own community makes it all even more special,” he said.
While the summer concert in New Carlisle is considered to be the chorus’ biggest event of the season, they also performed at the Dayton Dragons’ game this past weekend for the tenth consecutive year. Ball said the Dragons hold recorded auditions at the end of February, which brings together hundreds of soloists, ensembles, and instrumental groups in competition to sing The Star Spangled Banner before the start of games in the upcoming season. He said “they choose only the best” for the pre-game performances, and noted that the New Carlisle chorus is always thrilled to be selected.
“I do think many of the chorus members look forward to this event, not only do we get to perform for a large audience, but we also get to enjoy a great evening of baseball,” he said. “And since it has become a staple of our summer season we all look forward to going back! Especially when the weather is nice.”
