Photo submitted to the Times Observer The Silver Winds Flute Choir prepares for Classics and Carols. The concert is Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 7:00 at the First Lutheran Church. Back row, from left are Ellen Scalise, Judi Danielson, Becky Darbee, Jessalyn Peterson-Palmer and Nancy Scott. Front row, from left, are Deena Winters, Lee Reynolds, Laura Whitten and Pat Murphy. Not pictured is Emily Rose.

The Silver Winds Flute Choir presents Classics and Carols on Thursday at 7 p.m.

The free performance will occur in the sanctuary of the First Lutheran Church, 109 Third St, Warren. The program welcomes the holiday season with flute fanfare, classical selections, seasonal tunes, and Christmas carols.

Dawn Carol, a fanfare by Margaret Lowe written for the flute choir, welcomes a new day. The listener can imagine the earth’s awakening as each of the ten flutes enters to play their part. The fanfare is followed by traditional classical pieces transcribed for the flute choir: two selections from Handel’s Water Music–Allegro and Bouree and Haydn’s London Trio #1. Familiar seasonal selections include Victor Herbert’s (arr. Holcombe and Holcombe) March of the Toys, Leroy Anderson’s (arr, Oriss) Sleigh Ride, and the ever-popular Nutcracker selections March and Trepak (Tchaikovsky/Maddox).

Christmas selections begin with Pastorale from Handel’s Messiah (Maddox) and Greensleeves Fantasia (McGinty). Kelly Via’s French Nativity Suite is an arrangement of three French carols– Il est Ne (He is Born), En Flambeau, Jeanette Isabella (Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella), and Pat-a-Pan.

This unique arrangement includes piccolo duets within the flute choir. Good King Wenceslas, Still, Still, Still, and Silent Night will complete the program.

The Silver Winds Flute Choir was founded in 2007 by five flutists. Three founding members continue with the choir today: Becky Darbee, Pat Murphy, and Laura Whitten. These flutists are joined by seven additional flutists that have been with the choir as early as 2010 and 2012 and as recently as 2023: Emily Rose Frederick, Nancy Scott, Ellen Scalise, Deena Winters, Jessalyn Peterson-Palmer, Judi Danielson, and Lee Reynolds. Flutists are from various backgrounds, all with a love of the flute and flute music. With ten flutists in the group, the choir can perform selections with greater depth of sound by including bass and alto flute parts. The repertoire choice is also enlarged.

The choir chooses pieces that are classical selections arranged for the flute choir, contemporary music composed specifically for the flute choir, Celtic and traditional tunes, and sacred music arranged for the flute choir’s unique instrumentation.

“We get such pleasure from playing together and presenting our music to the public. We also find joy in using our talents to help our community. Though admission to the concerts is free, we accept donations to help defer the choir’s costs and support local charitable efforts. We have chosen to pass on most of the donations from this concert to First Lutheran Church’s Produce Express food distribution program. This program helps local families meet their families’ nutritional needs with food staples and fresh produce”, said Becky Darbee, choir coordinator. “We are thankful that we can use our talents to help our community.”

The choir will present its second concert of the ”24-’25 season in the late spring.

For additional information, call Becky at 814-688-2054.