Lexington Choral Society celebrates 50 years of perfect harmony
Fifty years ago, 14 women in Lexington gathered to start a new singing group to bring women’s choral music to Davidson County. Fast forward to November 2022, the offspring members of that initial group are preparing for its golden anniversary performance on Dec. 3.
The Lexington Choral Society began in 1971, when Jo Ann Poston Hill and Bea McCrary turned a conversation at a community pool, into a brand-new singing organization for women.
“We both loved to sing, and I was amazed at how much talent there was in this small town. We knew there was a men’s group already, so we said, “Why don’t we start a women’s choral group?” said Hill.
The Lexington Women’s Choral Society began with three directors, Hill, Florence Green and Georgeanna Jordan, and accompanists Marge Team and Sandra Shoaf.
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The group performed for the first time in 1972 at the North Carolina Federation of Music Clubs district meeting. Later that same year, the group performed at the Annual Community Candlelight Service sponsored by the Lexington Music Study Club.
The well-known annual formal concerts, the “Spring Sing” and “Welcome to December” began in 1981. Men joined the women’s group in 1984 to form the Lexington Choral Society of today. From starting with only 14 women, the group has swelled to between 40 and 60 members each season.
Hill said she is not surprised the organization has existed for this many years because the group itself has always been very accepting and encouraging.
“They are such a great group of folks, they are so enthusiastic,” said Hill. “There has never been any auditions, everyone is welcome who loves to do good music.”
Over the years, the group has performed at many local, state, and national events, including the Myrtle Beach Choral Festival-by-the-Sea, the Choral Artist Series of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC and the North Carolina Furnishings Festival in High Point.
But the hands-down highlight of the groups history was a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York in 1997. Choral society members gave two solo performances and then joined several different choirs for ensemble performance.
Cheri Murray is the remaining original member of the Lexington Choral Society who joined the group back in 1971. She said that she first joined because she loved to sing, and after 50 years, she still gets the same enjoyment out of it.
“I like a challenge,” said Murray. “We have lots of challenging pieces we have learned to do, and the friendships are marvelous; we have a wonderful time.”
She said one of her favorite memories was performing at Carnegie Hall in New York.
“It was the highlight of our organization,” said Murray.
Hill was director of the Lexington Choral Society for 35 years before handing over the conductor's baton to Phil and Melonie Rector. The couple took over the leadership and continued to direct the group for the next 10 years. In the fall of 2017, Ellen Peterson became director during his 45th-year anniversary season.
Peterson says the organization is still as relevant as it was in 1971 when the fledgling group first began.
“I think it is a great organization that has evolved and developed over 50 years,” said Peterson. “The fact that it still exists and is active in the community speaks a lot about the organization itself. It is great to be the director on its 50th anniversary, and to be only its third director in its history.”
She said the annual “Welcome to December” and “Spring Sing” concerts are still favorites in the community that people look forward to attending.
“The arts are so important in every aspect of our lives whether you realize it or not,” said Peterson. “Around Christmas, it is great that you can go hear tunes you are familiar with but also have some exposure to new and contemporary choral music. It is great to have the opportunity to present choral music to the community, and we are fortunate to have an organization that is keeping choral music alive in Davidson County.”
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Ralph Ashley was one of the first male members to join the Lexington Choral Society in 1981, and he is still a member today.
“Choral singing started in high school for me, and it has always been a hobby of mine. I have enjoyed being part of it for all these years. Some of us have been together now for almost 40 years, but we also have some younger members that have the same enjoyment I had when I was younger. It’s a great group,” said Ashley.
Jessie Lockwood is one of the newer members of the Lexington Choral Society. She and her sister have been performing with the group for the past five years. She said she joined the choral society because she wanted to be part of a group of people that shared her love for music.
“There is a sense of belonging and family,” said Lockwood. “We all share the same passion. We all love music, and it makes me happy. The fact that this group has lasted 50 years is a proven testament that music brings the community together.”
Hill said that looking back at the years of the Lexington Choral Society, she is proud that the group is still going strong.
“It’s pretty amazing,” said Hill. “It always touches my heart when I think of the hundreds of people who have come and gone and all they have contributed. Music touches so many lives and it has been wonderful that the Lexington Choral Society has been able to do that.”
The Lexington Choral Society will be performing its annual “Welcome to December!” concert on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. at First United Methodist Church located at 310 S. Main Street in Lexington.
For more information go to www.lexingtonchoralsociety.org
This article originally appeared on The Dispatch: Lexington Choral Society celebrates 50 years of perfect harmony
