Christmas Show 2009

December 5th, 2009 Grand Rapids Barbershop Chapter Great Lakes Chorus 13th Annual Christmas Show Holiday Harmonies with special guests the Sweet Adeline Grand Rapids Chorus and area barbershop quartets. Matinee and evening show at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, corner of 36th St SE and 7495 Cascade Rd SE in Cascade.

Sweet Adeline Grand Rapids Chorus Director Ann Jarchow with Asst. Director Judy Westers, and Asst. Director Denise VanDyken.

Great Lakes Chorus Director Aaron Bouwman and Asst. Director Peter Westers.

A wonderful Christmas show this year! It's been a few years since we've done a show with the Sweet Adelines Grand Rapids Chorus and they were a real treat. There was a lot of positive audience feedback about how nice it is to have a holiday show with both the girls and guys choruses.

The show started with a joint chorus performance of Home For The Holidays with pianist Diane Cosby and then the girls sang the first half of the show while introducing guy quartets. About 64 of The Sweet Adelines sang mostly secular holiday songs including a beautiful song Love In Any Language which included some of their members using sign language. Some amazing numbers including the chorus split into 2 and singing 2 separate songs simultaneously under direction of the 2 assistant directors. And there was the ever cute I want A Hippopotamus For Christmas songs featuring the adorable pre teen girl quartet the Grand Rapids Singing Angels, 2 of their members' having to stand on milk crates to reach the mics.

Then the 2nd half of the show the 36 guys sang while introducing the girl quartets. The Great Lakes Chorus sang half secular and half sacred music. The sacred music including a short moving number with an echo quartet singing from the opposite end of the church sanctuary. There was also the traditional rowdy fun 12 Days Of Christmas Barbershop Parody staring the antics by GLC tenor and resident elf Paul Slack plus the new addition of grumpy FedUp delivery man (parody on FedEx delivery). Somebody please let me known his name so I can list it here, he was brilliant!

The Westers Family Quartet also performed including 11 year old GLC member Silas, sisters Abbie and Kobby (who needed the milk crates), their dad and GLC Asst. Director Peter Westers, and mom GRC Asst. Directory Judy Westers.

The show ended with Grand Rapids Chorus joining the Great Lakes Chorus on stage singing enmasse Do You Hear What I Hear. Pianist Diane Cosby

Afterglow at Brann's Steakhouse and Grille 28th St near i-96.


In order of appearance quartets that sang and some captured video clips...

Vocal Artisans- Doug Weaver, Robert Ryan, Michael Baribeau, and Patrick Ryan.

Vocal Artisans webpage is www.GreatLakesChorus.org/VA

Vocal Artisans Video Clip

Great Lakes Pride- Paul Slack, Aaron Bouwman, Bud Kraft, and John Baker.

Great Lakes Pride Video Clip

Fountain Street Four- Phil Spencer, Brandon Ciesielski, Owen Sharpe, and Dan Winer. Collegiate quartet.

Fountain Street Four webpage is www.FS4quartet.com

Fountain Street Four Video Clip

Yuletide- Patrick Ryan, Toby Shaver, Robert Ryan, and James Masalskis.

Yuletide Video Clip

Grand Rapids Singing Angels- Koby Westers, Kelsey Jarchow, Haley Wassenaar, and Eden Witvoet, ages 6-11. Their families include GRSA Master Director Ann Jarchow and Assistant Director Judy Westers.

Grand Rapids Singing Angels Video Clip

Top Notch- Jane Perrin, Marcia Shanken, Ann Jarchow, and Reath Schooley

Top Notch Video Clip

12 Days Of Christmas Barbershop Parody with 'Tag' Quartet- Patrick Ryan, Peter Westers, Aaron Bouwman, and Dan Winer.

X-position- Jeanne Martin, Linda Rozeman, Pattee Bender, and Leah Williams

X-position Video Clip

Blue Champagne- Jeanne Martin, Teresa Fuller, Pam Latus, and Leah Williams

Blue Champagne Video Clip

fLip fLop- Laura Stuber, Sandy Cheeseman, Diz Frederick, and Debbie Pfennig

fLip fLop Video Clip

While By My Sheep 'Echo' Quartet- Phil Spencer, Aaron Bouwman, Dan Winer, and Owen Sharpe.

Westers Family Quintet- Abbie, Kobby, Silas, Judy & Peter Westers.

Westers Family Quintet Video Clip

Click here for more photos greatlakeschorus.org/pics/091205/phpshow.php


For high speed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended or click here