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Our Holiday Fundraiser Event

Huntsville Community Theatre is pleased to present our 3rd annual Holiday Fundraiser event – Songs of the Season.

HCT is very grateful that The Huntsville Community Adult Senior Choir, conducted by Dr. Harley Rex, and The Huntsville Men’s Choir, conducted by Norman Ward will once again grace our stage with their very talented singers to help our Huntsville Community to sing in the holiday season.

The Belle Chanson Choir, conducted by Cindy Rohe, as well as soloists Melanie Holliday and Dani Gathright will also be featured performers at this year’s event.

Photographs

Songs of the Season Photos

Performance Dates and Times

• December 18 (7:30 pm)
• December 19 (2:00 pm)

Performance Location

J. Philip Gibbs, Jr., Centre for the Performing Arts
(Old Town Theatre), 1023 12th St., Huntsville, TX

The Choirs

Hunstville Community Senior Adult Choir

Harley Rex taught at SHSU for 35 years, serving in a number of capacities including director of the marching band and the concert and jazz bands, saxophone instructor, and as the teacher of one of the university’s most popular courses ever – The History of Rock and Roll. Dr. Rex was also assistant chairman of the music department and chairman of the summer music camps at SHSU. Dr. Rex accepted the role of conductor of the Huntsville Community Senior Adult Choir the very day he retired from SHSU.

 

Huntsville Community Senior Adult Choir Members: Annie Baine, Louise Batterton, Arville Batterton, Sandra “Sandi” Bean, Colleen Beavers, Dorothy Bridges, Robbie Cleere, Evelyn Cox, Milton Dahkle, Anita Green, Bo Grounds, Juanita Grounds, Dick Gillum, Paul Hardy, Verla Hardy, Jack Heintschel, Kris Hennirich, Ed Hoot, Ann House, Ron Johnson, Bob Jones, Jackie Jones, Carol Larson, Eloise Little, Bill Marker, Connie Marker, Geneva Martin, Jared Martin, Mary Ann May, Jerry McGee, Kathryn McKenzie, Beth Miles, Dot Neathery, Jesse Parker, Gradylene Pate, Barbara Pearson, Pat Phillips, Judy Philips, Ron Philips, Frank Roberson, Maxine Roberson, Merle Scheffer, Don “Doc” Shirley, Edith Shirley, Maureen Samuels, Wayne Spivey, Tanna Sullivan, Lela Thomson, Bob Tyler, Geneva Tyler, Dick Thrall, Ray Whitney, Wanda Hassman – Pianist and Harley Rex – Conductor.

Hunstville Men's Choir

Norman Ward, a retired businessman, started the Huntsville Men’s Choir with 15 men in 1992. The Choir has had as many as 55 members, presently 36. The members represent 6 different denominations and 11 churches. The Choir has sung for two Astros games (sell outs with over 45,000), the dedication of the Sam Houston Statue, the grand opening of the H.E.A.R.T.S. Museum, the 150th Anniversary of First Baptist Church, for Fair on the Square, various civic clubs, fundraisers for Habitat, Huntsville Community Theatre, plus downtown lighting, July 4th celebration, Viet Nam Wall, plus many more.

Huntsville's Men’s Choir Members: Jim Boney, Ralph Cadwallader, Ron Cleere, Bobby Cooper, Milton Dahkle, Paul Davidhiser, Tom Davis, Mickey Evans, Larry Fusaro, Dick Gillum, Bo Grounds, Jim Hall, Jack Heintschel, Gary Hood, Kim Hope, James Johnson, Ron Johnson, Raymond Kiser, Bill Marker, Ernest McCollum, Harrell Moore, Allen Pritchard, David Rex, Harley Rex, Casey Salinas, Ron Sartain, Don Shirley, Wayne Spivey, Dick Thall, Bob Tyler, David Ward, Ray Whitney, Linford Williams, Cynthia Cross – Accompanist and Norman Ward – Conductor.

Belle Chanson Choir

Cindy Rohe grew up in Huntsville, attended Huntsville public schools and Sam Houston State University. She taught music at all levels in Huntsville for 34 of her 35 years in teaching. She retired from teaching in 2006 and is busier than ever with musicals for HCT and other venues and as director of Belle Chanson. Belle Chanson is a select self-funded chorus of adult women with extensive background in music. We choose to share our love of music in ways that will benefit our community. Previous concerts have raised money for the Wynne Home, Pregnancy Care Center, SAAFE house, Walker County Mammogram Fund, HEARTS Veterans Museum, Boys and Girls club, Habitat for Humanity, and breast cancer research. They will be performing their Christmas concert this year on December 21st at 7 pm at the First Presbyterian Church. There will be no admission charge.

Belle Chanson Choir Members: Mary Lynn Bailey, Nancy Bailey, Juneria Berges, Lynn Bishop, Reney Christian, Cynthia Cross, Tammy Davis, Dani Gathright, Sarah Ann Hale, Pam Hugghins, Susan Knuth, Meaghan Marti, Michelle Martinez, Shiela Noel, Lora Pace, Michele Ray, Dorothy Roberson, Michelle Unger, Cheri Yerkes and Cindy Rohe - Conductor.

The Soloists

Melanie Holiday

Melanie Holliday, an Elkins Lake resident, was born in Houston, Texas. She studied classical ballet for over 14 years. Ms Holliday attended SHSU to study with Dr. Walter Foster, and then went to the University of Indiana to complete her opera diploma. The soprano went to Europe where the legendary Marcel Prawy recommended her for Leonard Bernstein’s musical “Candide” in Vienna. Soon thereafter Melanie Holliday joined the ensemble of the Vienna Volksopera. Over a period of 15 years she performed with distinction at this opera house in more than 20 roles most successfully. Among others her special roles included “Valencienne” (The Merry Widow) as well as “Adele” (The Bat) not to forget “Olympia” (The Tales of Hoffmann), where she sang the highly sophisticated coloratura part “en pointe” quite uniquely due to her dancing abilities.

Ms. Holliday will be a featured soloist during both performances of the Songs of the Season.

Dani Gathright

Dani Gathright earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Sam Houston State University where she studied voice with Dr. Walter Foster. She taught private piano and voice lessons for fifteen years including two years at University Heights Baptist Church Academy for the Performing and Visual Arts in Huntsville, Texas. Mrs. Gathright has taught choir and general music in Coldspring-Oakhurst Consolidated ISD, Huntsville ISD, and Alpha Omega, a private Christian Academy. She is currently the choir director at Peet Junior High in Conroe ISD, where her Chamber Choir was chosen to perform for The National Association of Middle School’s Conference and Convention in Houston in November 2007. They have also performed for various CISD and Conroe community events. Mrs. Gathright was the CISD Elementary Honor Choir director in the spring of 2008, and the CISD Intermediate Honor Choir director in the spring of 2009, She was voted Peet Teacher of the Year by her teaching colleagues in 2007-2008. While at Peet Mrs. Gathright’s choirs have received Superior UIL ratings. She is an accompanist and accomplished vocalist, and was employed as the pianist at First Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church in Huntsville for many years. Mrs. Gathright was also the accompanist for The Woodlands Academy of Fine Arts Men’s Choir founded and formerly directed by her husband Dr. Greg Gathright. She has also been a featured soloist at many university, church and community choral events through out East Texas, and enjoyed singing lead roles in Huntsville’s Gilbert and Sullivan Society performances for many years. Mrs. Gathright has directed church children’s choirs and was co-director of The Huntsville Children’s Choir, (founded by Joan Howey and the late David Czervinsky) for thirteen years. While co-directing The HCC the choir was chosen to perform at The Organization of American Kodaly Educator’s (OAKE) Conference and Convention in New Orleans, and at The Texas Music Educator’s Association (TMEA) Conference and Convention held annually in San Antonio. Mrs. Gathright has also co-founded, and performs with Belle Chanson (French for Beautiful Song), a community women’s choir in Huntsville who sing to help raise money for local and national organizations and charities that benefit women’s needs primarily. Mrs. Gathright now sings in the Sanctuary Choir, and plays handbells at Lakewood United Methodist Church in Klein, where her husband is the Director of Worship Arts. Gathright and her husband have three sons, three lovely daughters-in-law, two grandsons, Brendan and Sean, and a granddaughter, Julia. Dr. and Mrs. Gathright reside in Spring.

The Music

“Sleigh Ride,” performed by the Huntsville Community Senior Adult Choir

“Carol of the Bells,” performed by the Huntsville Community Senior Adult Choir

“The Christmas Song,” performed by Ray Whitney

“Do you hear What I Heat?” performed by the Huntsville Community Senior Adult Choir

“Alleluja,” by Mozart, soprano solo, performed by Melanie Holliday with pianist Cynthia Cross

“Pie Jesu,” by A.L. Webber, soprano duet, performed by Melanie Holliday and Dani Gathright, with the Huntsville Community Senior Adult Choir

“12 Days of Christmas,” performed by the Huntsville Community Senior Adult Choir

“12 Days After Christmas,” performed by the Huntsville Community Senior Adult Choir

“Little Drummer Boy,” solo by Melanie Holliday, with drums by Little Harley Rex and pianist Cynthia Cross

“Jingle Bell Rock,” with David Rex on the drums, Big Harley on the soprano saxophone and the Huntsville Community Senior Adult Choir

“Santa Claus is coming to Town,” performed by the Huntsville Community Senior Adult Choi, featuring the “Bell Dancers”

“Here Comes Santa Clause,” performed by the Huntsville Community Senior Adult Choir

“Silent Night,” audience sing-a-long with all three Choirs combined

“No Time to Diet,” performed by the Belle Chanson Choir

“Home on Christmas Day,” performed by the Belle Chanson Choir

“Sussex Carol,” performed by the Belle Chanson Choir

“White Christmas,” audience sing-a-long with all three Choirs

“Gloria,” performed by the Huntsville Men’s Choir

“Silver Bells,” performed by the Huntsville Men’s Choir

“Beautiful Savior,” performed by the Huntsville Men’s Choir

“Feliz Navidad,” performed by the Huntsville Men’s Choir

“O Holy Night,” performed by Melanie Holliday, with all three Choirs combined

“We wish you a Merry Christmas,” audience sing-a-long with all Choirs and performers

The Musicians

Wanda Hassman, pianist, Huntsville Community Senior Adult Choir

Cynthia Cross, pianist, Huntsville Men’s Choir

David Rex, Drums

Harley Rex, Jr., Drums

Harley Rex, Sr., Soprano Saxophone

Tickets

Ticket prices may be found on the Tickets page.

Box Office Hours

HCT’s Box Office opens one hour before the start time of each production.

• 7:30 PM Productions – Box Office opens at 6:30 PM
• 2:00 PM Matinee – Box Office opens at 1:00 PM

Press Contact

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