Cedar Mountain Singers concert tonight and tomorrow night

Soprano Suzanne Bannister to sing with Cedar Mountain Singers for the second year in a row.

The Cedar Mountain Singers were joined by the Jessieville High School chorus in 2008. (Photo by John Citron)

This year the Cedar Mountain Singers are joined by dynamic soprano Suzanne Bannister for the concert tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. at Woodlands Auditorium.

The Cedar Mountain Singers was formed in the fall of 1993. It was the only Village-wide, non-audition mixed choral group until the addition of the Messiah program last year in the Village. The singers perform two concerts at year, spring and fall. The 100-member chorus rehearses only eight times before each concert. This is the 35th concert by the Cedar Mountain Singers.

Bannister, like me, is another New Orleans person that has relocated to Arkansas. She is an active performer and a teacher at Hendrix College in Conway. Bannister often solos with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and the Fort Smith Symphony Orchestra. She received her Bachelor's degree in vocal performance from Louisiana College and her Master's in vocal performance from Loyola University at New Orleans.

The performances of Cedar Mountain Singers have the added treat of ridiculously corny jokes by conductor Randy Lusk and emcee Dr. Bill Lefler. I reviewed the last rehearsal of the show and was unable to hear Lefler's jokes but I know they are funny as is he.

Once again this year the Singers are joined by accompanist Ray Liebeu, keyboardist Steve Fetcko, percussionist Lee Beach and rehearsal accompanist Nikki Saltmarsh on various percussion instruments. The Hot Springs Village Saxophone Quartet will warm up the audience before the show starts. The quartet members are Bill Morgan, Howard Olson, Charlie Wilson and Hal Thompson.

Thompson is also the assistant director of the Singers. He conducts Angels and Shepherds, a 1931 tune by Helen A. Dickinson and Sheldon Curry, a Victorian anthem-style piece. Thompson does a good job on the Dias.

Conductor Randy Lusk conducted the remainder of the concert. He is known for getting the most out of his chorus sound and this show will not disappoint. By reviewing the rehearsal I also missed the parade of wild costumes Lusk wears during the show. A do not miss.

There were two numbers that used pre-recorded music, I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas and Hallelujah! From Handel's Messiah Rocks. The Hippopotamus piece carries over as the theme of the concert Christmases and Hippopotamuses. There were lots of smiles all around for the Hippopotamus song, it was cute. The Messiah Rocks is not my cup of tea but it was well-performed. I am more a traditionalist where Handel is concerned.

The Singers perform several light holiday pieces and some meatier ones as well. They do an admirable job especially when you consider they have only had eight rehearsals before the concert. Some of the concert pieces include What Child is This? arranged by Molly Ijame, Calypso Gloria by Emily Crocker and Little Saint Nick arranged by Mary Brymer. The finale of the evening, Silent Night, Holy Night arranged by Mark Hayes, is beautiful, a treat for the eyes and the soul.

The most gorgeous piece of the night was Bannister's interpretation of Franz Schubert's Ave Maria. It was closely rivaled by the collaboration of Bannister and the chorus on Craig Courtney's arrangement of Breath of Heaven. The back to back numbers gave my goosebumps, goosebumps.

There is a lot of humor in a Cedar Mountain Singers concert and this one is no exception, Bannister's rendition of Frederick Silver's The Twelve Days After Christmas is a hoot. I was laughing out loud instead of just politely smiling.

The Cedar Mountain Singers concert will be a fun evening for anyone looking for holiday music in the Village. Tickets are $10.