One of the men is a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War. Another worked for NASA. Now, the two men and 34 others, each of them with remarkable stories of their own, join forces as the Bella Vista Men's Chorus. The group, under the direction of Bill Hesse, performs its annual Christmas concert on Sunday at the Bella Vista Community Church.
Hesse says he enjoys it when members of the public interact with the gentlemen in the organization, learning their stories. The average age of the vocalists in the choral group is 75, so they have much in the way of life experiences to share.
FAQ
‘I’m Dreaming
Of a Bella Vista Christmas’
WHEN — 3 p.m. Sunday
WHERE — Bella Vista Community Church, 75 E Lancashire Blvd. in Bella Vista
COST — By free-will donation
INFO — bellavistamenschoru… or 855-0277
But the event on Sunday finds them onstage with several other community music groups: the Aurora String Quartet, Gospel 4, Village Handbell Ringers, the Melody Lane barbershop quartet and the Bella Vista Women's Chorus.
Together, the groups will present a program heavy on Christmas favorites but also including a few newer works. Among the debut offerings will be "How Great Our Joy," Hesse says.
By popular request, a piece first performed last year makes a return. The "Musicological Journey Through the Twelve Days of Christmas" starts with Gregorian chants and ends sounding like something from the 21st century.
"It's a crowd pleaser, but it's still tongue-in-cheek at the same time," Hesse says.
Sunday's performance will be Hesse's final one as the group's director after five years of service. He says he hopes to give the group new blood because after so long, "your groove becomes your rut."
Fayetteville resident Ray Boudreaux will take over as interim director of the Bella Vista Men's Chorus after the Christmas concert.
-- Kevin Kinder
NAN What's Up on 12/12/2014