‘Angels we have heard on high’

After bringing Christmas alive with a concert for the past 15 years, the community cantata choir doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. This year’s cantata, directed by Walter Sprague, is scheduled to sing “Love Came Down at Christmas,” by Joel Ramey, on Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Crouch Auditorium.
The first year Sprague directed, he had about 35 members who were all older, and he admitted he was concerned that the cantata could end in any given year if younger people didn’t participate.
But that changed last year. 
“We started getting some younger people involved, and it was wonderful. This year we have even younger people as well. That gives me the sense that this group can continue for a long time. It gives the feeling of a future for the whole group, even after I’m gone,” Sprague said.
Joyce Diedtrich, who started and directed the cantata for a decade, still participates as a choir member, and she loves having the younger children and young adults involved, especially after watching some of the older members drop out. 
“We’re so grateful for the young people that are starting to come into it the last four or five years,” Diedtrich said. “They’re great, they’re enthusiastic, they follow directions beautifully, and they listen.”
“Choir was one of my favorite things in high school,” said Emma Anderson, who graduated in 2014. “It is because of that time in choir that I have come to enjoy being a part of the cantata choir.”
The Ferguson family will be another set of young voices heard at this year’s cantata. Siblings Julia, Esther, Joseph and Samuel, along with friend of the family Christopher Johnson, enjoy the fellowship of making music together with the other choir members and are looking forward to “blessing the audience with the message of Christmas,” Esther said. 
The Fergusons have grown up singing in choirs, which is something they have missed since moving to Wyoming a couple of years ago, so they were excited to join the cantata. 
“Music is very important, especially at Christmas time because more people will listen to the message of Christ’s birth,” Esther said. 
“I believe the cantata is vital to the community because it brings us together to enjoy a variety of music and fellowship with one another and mainly brings glory to my Lord Jesus,” Anderson added.
For many of the younger members, it’s an opportunity to sing with family and friends. Tanya Foote grew up with music in the church and participated in band and choir, but due to her husband’s night shifts at the refinery and raising nine kids, she had to put singing on the shelf.
Tanya laughed.
“It’s hard to practice when your husband’s sleeping,” she said. “It’s not my husband’s fault, but that’s my story, and I’m sticking with it.”
Tanya admitted she was “too lazy” and impatient to practice music, but when the opportunity to join the cantata came up, she thought it would be something fun for her to do with her youngest daughters, Lizzy, 15, and Sarah, 12. 
“We’ve really enjoyed it. I really like having a reason to sing with my girls,” Tanya said. “This is a way I can give them light into my world growing up.” 
“Last year, my mom had us try it,” Lizzy said. “It’s absolutely a lot of fun.”
This year, Lizzy decided to step outside of her comfort zone and volunteer for one of the narrator parts. Although she’s a little nervous, she knows it will be fun too. 
“I hope I don’t slip up with my words — I’m kind of known for that,” she said.
Both Lizzy and her sister Sarah have especially enjoyed the practices this year because their friends Patience, 18, and Grace Hovland, 12, are also in the choir. 
“I like singing. … It’s really fun. I get to sit next to my friend Grace,” Sarah said. 
Patience admitted she is new to the music world, but she enjoys the challenge.
“I enjoy music, and this is an opportunity to learn more. And as something new and challenging, it really caught my curiosity,” Patience said. “I enjoy music not only because it is pleasant to the ear, but because its complexity amazes me. Through its depth, complexity and reliability, it declares the glory of God.”
Grace agreed and added that she enjoys learning from others as well.
“I think music is important, and I enjoy it because I like to glorify God with it,” she said. 
Their brothers Noah, 17, and David, 15, are also participating because they wanted to experience singing in a choir. 
“I am most looking forward to my first choir performance like this,” David said. “I have enjoyed the practices so far because I’m singing in a group and learning.”
“I enjoy music because it is fun singing and learning,” Noah added. “The most challenging thing so far has been the actual singing.”
Sprague believes cantata is important to the community for various reasons. From a personal aspect, he loves the opportunity to conduct, and for the choir, it’s a fun activity and a chance to be “involved in something beautiful.”
“For the community, it gives me a chance to bring something I feel is beautiful and with a group effort. I adore the dynamics of cooperation,” Sprague said. “It gives the community that sense that they were important enough for a group to invest this kind of time to bring them something wonderful, just for them. I think it’s important for the town to feel good about themselves.”
Additionally, the Newcastle Bell Choir, directed by Lynda Russell, and the youth bell choir, called “Bells of Glory,” directed by Elaine Wilcomb, will perform at the cantata.
Diedtrich said she is hoping for a good turnout. 
“It is just such a joy to sing in a large group of people,” she said. “I’ve always said, ‘Music feeds the soul,’ and they (the younger choir members) feel that whether they recognize it or not.”