WASHINGTON — Southwest Indiana Cantata Choir and Orchestra presents the cantata “The Ballad of Bethlehem, A Timeless Story of God’s Love” by Pepper Choplin in a 4 p.m. performance at Washington High School Auditorium in Washington. Admission is free to the public.
SWICC features singers and instrumental musicians from across Southwest Indiana, including Gibson, Knox, Pike and Davies counties. The 22-member orchestra is composed of professional musicians and college students from Southern Indiana. Director Joyce Kim-Rohrer, an adjunct music professor at Vincennes University, notes that many current VU students, faculty and alumni are in the choir and orchestra. Among them, locally, are Gibson County vocalists Brendan Harrell and Amy Loveless.
“Every year, we all want to find a fresh way to make the story of Christ’s birth come alive for our congregations and communities,” said Choplin. “For centuries, a ballad has been a musical way to tell a story. Storytelling through music is a big part of what we do as church musicians.”
While the lyrics are sung in English, narration will be spoken in English, Creole and Spanish to make the performance accessible to many community members.The traditional story of the birth of Christ is told through music, actors, narration and video.
The local performance is made possible by donations from businesses and individuals, as well as support from area churches. SWICC represents 17 different churches in seven counties.
A free-will offering will be collected and all donations are welcome.
A hand-made quilt raffle will also be conducted Sunday (ticket holders need not be present to win) after the concert for the benefit of the organization. Tickets, at $1 each, are available from any SWICC member, by calling 812-486-5570 or emailing swindcantatachoir@gmail.com
A cookies and wassail reception is planned following the cantata.