The longtime dream of a local singer and choral director will come together this weekend at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center, sadly, five months after her death.
Cheri Dawe, choir director at Fellowship General Baptist Church, who passed away July 7, was a huge fan of multi-talented composer Dan Forrest. A year ago, after her choir joined the Chancel Choir of the First United Methodist Church for a Christmas concert, Dawe and Pam Becker, the Methodist director, began making plans for an “all Dan Forrest” program this year. They began picking out some of Dawe’s favorite Forrest arrangements.
After her unexpected death in July, Becker and members of both choirs felt strongly this year’s program should go on as planned to honor Dawe.
So, at 7 p.m. Saturday and again at 3 p.m. Sunday, about 50 singers from the combined choirs of Fellowship Church and First United Methodist Church will join voices again at the Tinnin Center auditorium on the campus of Three Rivers College. A 13-piece chamber orchestra and the Methodist Chancel Ringers handbell choir will accompany the vocalists. Pam Becker will conduct this year’s concert.
The program will be dedicated to the memory of Cheri Charolette Ann Moore-Dawe.
Titled “O Come All Ye Faithful,” the program will feature Forrest’s unique arrangements of many familiar Christmas carols, including his widely heralded “The First Noel,” which the Salt Lake Tribune described as “superb choral writing full of spine-tingling moments.” Forrest’s varied background in performing and teaching has led him to a wide range of compositions, including choral, instrumental, orchestral and wind band works.
Forrest‘s best-known work is “Requiem for the Living,” which has been performed several hundred times worldwide. He is equally at home with both concert and church music and frequently writes complex scores for sophisticated performers. At the same time, he is highly regarded for his works accessible for amateur choirs. The composer views his music as an outgrowth of his Christian faith.
The weekend program, which is free and open to the public, will begin with a handbell procession down the aisles of the Tinnin Center Auditorium. An octet comprised of members from both choirs will sing two selections. Singers will include Alice Barbour, Ramona Baker, Kim Crites, Stacy Schull, David Chung, Eric Starnes, Jim Todd and Phil Coleman.