Boyertown Area Choral Arts "Sing for Joy," Return for Annual Holiday Concert

by Lesley Misko and Allison Kelly

After a two year hiatus, Boyertown Area Choral Arts (BACA) is back, sporting a new name but under the continuing direction of Donna House. The group is excited to announce its 30th annual holiday concert—“Sing for Joy”—which will be held Sunday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m., at The Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, located at 35 W. Philadelphia Avenue in Boyertown.

The concert title sums up the feeling of the group of 58 members who are thrilled to be performing again. “We’re back. People are happy we are singing again. We are very happy to be back,” exclaims director House.

Audience members are invited to join the chorus for a cookie reception immediately following the performance

Concert selections will vary in tone and mood, from the quiet beauty of the season in “The First Noel” and “All on a Cold Winter’s Night,” to new arrangements of familiar favorites, such as a contemporary jazz version of “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” and a version of “Frosty the Snowman” with a big-band vibe.

One of director House’s particular favorites is “The Work of Christmas.” Based on a poem by Christian theologian and mystic Howard Thurman, House feels the song “challenges people to think about the world and Christmas differently.”

“We’re back. People are happy we are singing again. We are very happy to be back,” exclaims Donna House, director. 

“I also like to include some fun choices like ‘Jingle Bells,’” says House, adding that a favorite in that category is a “silly piece” named, “Ugly Christmas Sweater.” According to House, audience members should expect to hear familiar favorites as well as newer choices.

Formerly known as The Boyertown Area Choral Association, the group is now in its 20th year, and was created when long-time Boyertown Area Senior High (BASH) vocal music teacher Mrs. Margaretta “Peg” R. Lamb retired from teaching. Lamb’s former students were concerned that she “might need something to keep her busy.” House, who is among that group, has been directing the ensemble for 12 years, since Lamb handed her the baton and stepped down.

House says her own conducting style “harkens back to Peg Lamb’s. I like to work hard, so I work them hard. I like to challenge them, so we sing songs of varied rhythms and styles. We sing classical, traditional, and we have been adding more contemporary pieces.”

House is clearly proud of the musicians: “They are much better than average. They have beautiful voices,” she says.

The membership, fairly equally split between men and women, was originally limited to BASH choir alums, but now is open to all in the community. House explains that an audition is not required to join, adding that “some people have gorgeous voices, but cannot read music, so we help them along.” Robin Ward, long-time piano accompanist, makes the group whole.

After years performing at various venues around the community, the group is glad to be settled in at “Good Shepherd.” House describes it as a “great space that can hold several hundred people.” In addition to a Christmas concert always scheduled for the first Sunday in December, BACA also performs a spring concert on the first Sunday of May.

A free-will offering will be taken at the concert with a portion of the proceeds designated for the “Margaretta R. Lamb Scholarship,” which BACA traditionally presents to a BASH senior planning to study vocal music. Depending on the generosity of community members, the scholarship is typically valued at around $1,000.

To learn more about BACA, check out its Facebook page.

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