Celebration Community Choir to perform

The first performance of Celebration Community Choir for 2015 will be at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, at Iowa Mennonite School, near Kalona. The choir has been rehearsing weekly since the last Saturday in March. The singers have been exploring a variety of musical interests.

The group organizer, Nathaniel Yoder, graduated from Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., where he was the recipient of the Walter Hohmann Conducting Scholarship and served as assistant conductor for the concert choir. After serving for three years as the choir director at Hope Mennonite Church in Wichita, Kan., Yoder returned to Iowa. He is currently finishing a master's degree in music education at the University of Iowa.

Yoder collected responses from the singers about musical backgrounds and preferred styles. The program grew from the responses Yoder received and is representative of the diversity of singers in the group. The program will include pieces spanning from Palestrina to contemporary pop. The performance will also engage the music and cultural significance of several traditional Mexican songs.

The choir's goal is to build a singing opportunity that is open and hospitable to everyone and contributes to the strength of the local community. The singers represent a wide range of ages from teens to senior citizens. Some walk to practice and others drive 30 miles. Some have been singing for many years and others only a few, but their combined sound is one that will move and excite.

Everyone is welcome. Admission is free. Iowa Mennonite School is located at 1421 540th St. SW, Kalona.