By Karen O’Malia
The annual Holiday Concert of the San Miguel Singers will be presented Friday, December 9 at 5:00. Known for its fine acoustics, the venue remains at St. Paul’s Anglican Church. Please plan on attending this year. Concerts are always free to the public as a gift of the singers to the people of San Miguel.
Attendees will enjoy hearing old favorites as well as newer carols of the holiday season, as the group will place a special emphasis on the numerous carols from the United States. If you’ve ever wanted to hear a jazzy version of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” listen as Old St. Nick struts and sways into San Miguel.
The group is a volunteer endeavor and absorbs all the fees required for music, performance costs, paid instrumentalists, and newspaper articles. There is a collection received at each concert and the proceeds are given to one of the many not-for-profit groups who help those in need in our community.
The San Miguel Singers owe a large “thank you” to St. Paul’s Church and its Rector, the Reverend Canon George Woodward III, for the use of the facility, and to Michael Pearl and Pro Musica for the use of their grand piano.
The San Miguel Singers began twenty years ago and continue to this day. Originally, it was a small group of singers who sang madrigals. Over the years the numbers grew as it became simply, a group of singers who loved to sing. It was directed for most of those years by Liz Stone, a well-loved musician in the Community, noted for her musical endeavors. The San Miguel Singers present two concerts a year in December and in early spring.
Four years ago, Liz decided it was time to pass the baton. Liz, however, did agree to stay on as the accompanist. Karen O’Malia, a new musician in San Miguel had arrived several years earlier and joined the San Miguel Singers. Knowing of her musical background and training, especially in voice, Liz asked her to take on the role as director.
Shortly after Karen began as the director, COVID arrived, and The San Miguel Singers were forced to stop. People who are not musicians probably cannot understand how devastating that period was for singers especially. Many singers ventured into other areas of interest so that by the time musicians could begin to rehearse and perform again, many members were no longer available, happily involved in other endeavors.
The group has come full circle, and has returned as a small group of singers, many more of them music readers. Along with the vocal training Karen has brought to the group, the group has grown and become much more professional. Attendees at their concerts will find them a wonderful experience. Plan to attend the concert on December 9. It will surely get you in the mood for Christmas this year!
