Holiday's in Livonia sure know how to be celebrated. And the Livonia Civic Chorus knows how to do it up right.
Churchill audience was packed as 3:00 rolled around and at exactly the top of the hour Director
Jeff Swan raised his arms and the curtain opened to a rousing rendition of
Happy Holiday shifting seamlessly to
Beautiful Snow and Bring a Little Jingle.
Soloists
Susan Sweetman and
Jim Hovey added an smiles to
There's No Place Like Home.
Really enjoy when the
Men of the Chorus take center stage with
A Holly Jolly Christmas. But when they left the stage for the Women of the Chorus with soloists Karen Bell, Cindy Jones, Brenda Cook, it showcased just how talented this group of volunteer singers really are. Men, women, soloists, combined. They just seem to do everything right.
The afternoon was enhanced with the addition of
Lori Porter on keyboard, a 20 year teacher for the Livonia Public Schools including the CAPA program, and
Drew Parent the percussionist, director of bands at Tiffin University in Ohio. It was wonderful seeing and hearing the trumpets played by three students from Churchill High School,
Noah Klan, Nick Ferguson and Peter Bagazinski.
 My mind drifted when the chorus sang
Season of Dreams with soloist
Carol Verennis. Jeff Swan seems to have the right touch when it comes to selecting music, knowing just when the audience might be ready for another direction with the songs being shared. I indeed started dreaming of Christmas gone by and Christmas to look forward to.
Props were few during this concert unlike previous seasons when they played a huge role. But the use of candles during
Light a  Candle with soloists
Michelle Reska and
Andrew Palmer was perfect. If only all of the lights in the hall had been turned off instead of down it would have been amazing.
Intermission seemed to come too soon. I was just getting into the spirit, tapping my feet, closing my eyes to dream, swaying to the music. I was totally in the mood.
But soon after the return a brief break was held to present the Livonia Civic Chorus Scholarship to
Natalie Aguirre a senior vocal performance major at Madonna University who will be attending graduate school for either opera or music therapy. Over 100 scholarships have been presented by the Chorus since 1975. You read that right. Over 100 scholarships. Just another way this group over the years has given back to the community.
As the scholarship was being announced I realized just how beautifully simple the decorations were and in their simplicity it allowed for the music to shine through. The appropriate Christmas tree and the lights lining the stage, the pit and the what I would call the balcony. Simple but elegant. Hands off to the designers. And let me tell you that the vocal quality of these singers resonated with the quality of the sound system allowing every word and nuance of the songs to come through loud and clear.
Professional from start to finish.
Cheryl Tacy had the back stage crew humming effortlessly. Makes all the difference in the world.
 It was great to see City Treasurer
Lynda and Doug Scheel, council folks
Kathleen McIntyre, Scott Bahr and Rob Donovic on hand, as was former council candidate Jim Davis and wife Elaine. A whole row of Rotarians including past President of Schoolcraft College
Richard McDowell, Dave Cash, Laura Perlowski. There was Wilson Barn volunteer
Karen DePerro who brought her two sisters to enjoy the show.
Lexi Gillis from AlphaUSA brought her daughter Tiffany. There was Beth Tatigian and son Drew. I love audiences at Chorus concerts.
The second act saw Sharon Krol and Zachary Meyer solo in One Small Child and Susan Sweetman nailing her flute accompaniment with the Men of the Chorus and I Saw Three Ships.
The chorus nailed it and the audience responded with the Hallelujah Chorus as their final number. It was of no surprise that the audience was on their feet at the conclusion and too soon to this audience member the house lights came on and the afternoon was over.
But even as I left for the car and was driving away the lyrics kept playing over and over in my mind. The lyrics to Follow that Star:
In the quiet of the night
Under the wide expanse of sky
I am alone and asking questions... why
What's this longing in my heart
What's the reason for my life
And this solitary light is shining, calling
Follow that star, follow that star
Uncover the mystery of Who You are
I've searched for a lifetime,
I've come from afar
And discovered my destiny
Is to follow that star
To each their own interpretation. But when one song stands out to this non music person I realize just why I enjoy listening to music, the words, the lyrics, the voices.
At this concert in a music hall filled with people, smiling, greeting, applauding, holiday music. The excellence of Jeff and Kimberly Swan I once again come to the conclusion that I love Livonia and all the culture it offers, the personality it brings and the wonderment of the partnership between our schools with the performing arts center, the chorus and my neighbors.
Kathy Ventittelli left me a note after the concert, "the LCC holiday cocert should be on everyone's Christmas to do list. The chorus sounds better than ever -- always lightens my heart to hear them sing. That you for all the effort you put into each performance."
She nailed it. Professional from start to finish.
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The McCullough Ice Arena is finally flooding! Let's keep those temps below freezing!!
The Fine Arts Gallery, located on the second floor of the Robert and Janet Bennett Civic Center Library, is featuring the works of
Bob and Bill Joyner would like to tell you that here is still time to get your scholarship application for the Richard and Geraldine Joyner Scholarship to be applied to classes at Schoolcraft College. Whether you are planning to attend or are already enrolled this $600 scholarship can help you out. 
