Church performing arts series hits the right chord
By Jeff Gallatin
happenings
Published Feb. 9, 2005

Musically-oriented members of the Westlake United Methodist Church are hitting a high note with the expansion of its internal programs like the upcoming Valentine's Day concert as well as its Performing Arts Series which includes groups outside the immediate congregation.

Yolanda Crisp, who sings in the church choir as well and also helps publicize church events, said the combination of high-level church events and top-notch outside performers offers a variety of concerts for music lovers.

"There's going to be several different types of songs just at the Valentine's Day Concert alone," Crisp said. "They'll have a Valentine's Day or love song type feeling to them. But some will be show tunes, others will be classic love songs and ballads. There will be some solos, but we also have some ensemble songs which people should really enjoy."

With show time for the Valentine's Day concert set for 4 p.m. at the church at 27650 Center Ridge Road, members are fine-tuning their work.

"Everybody's kind of frantic trying to make sure everything is just right," Crisp said. "There's a lot of pride in making sure we have the performance just right for the audience and the church."

Andy Call, who directs the music at worship services as well as other church functions, said bringing in other musical performers as well as expanding the repertoire of church musical groups, is getting rave reviews from a lot of sources.

"There's no question we're getting positive feedback for both the Series and the church itself because of the growth of the series," Call said. "I've been here five years and I'm finding now people both inside the church as well as people from around the area are looking forward to seeing what's coming up in the series."

Call said the growth began when he was looking for ways to expand the interest in musical programs several years ago.

"I was trying to see about interest in attending performances outside the church to try and get additional musical variety for the church," Call said. "So I eventually wound up getting some other musical groups to come to the church to try and stimulate additional interest in music outside the church."

Call said the performances by The Ohio State University Choir, the Ohio University Symphonic Choir and a Hand Bells concert all hit the right key with church members.

"They generated enough additional interest to have us start expanding our programs as well as to continue to bring in other outside musical performers," Call said. "We also generate interest around the area for the performances here. We draw interest from all over Cuyahoga County and large parts of Lorain County for the series."

He said the cost for concerts can help draw some people into the performances.

"The price is right free, although we do take free-will donations," Call said. "But most people find that once they come, they really enjoy themselves and want to come back. We get enough donations to certainly help keep things going and bring in additional performances by some strong performers outside the church."

One upcoming concert by an outside group is the Feb. 25 performance by the University of Dayton Ebony Heritage Singers.

"It's an accomplished gospel group which has performed throughout the Midwest," Call said. "It's gotten honors from a variety of musical organizations, so its got a higher profile than many groups which perform at churches."

Crisp said there is a sense of fellowship among musical performers at the church.

"We look forward to seeing what the different performances and events are going to be," Crisp said. "With the Valentine's Day concert coming up there is definitely interest in it in the church. We're working hard to make sure we have everything right for it."

Crisp, a communications and marketing specialist in her professional life, said participating in the choir is a release for her from dealing with her career and other concerns.

"It definitely allows me to release some tension and enjoy myself," Crisp said. "In particular, I enjoy coming to practice on Thursdays. A lot of us can get together then and really enjoy ourselves."

She said the music plays a big role in the enjoyment but added it is not the only reason being in the choir is such a pleasure.

"We can express ourselves with the music. But we also talk with each other, it's a chance to catch up with friends as well as seeing what's going on in the community," she said.

Call said that sense of community surrounds the musical performers and the church as a whole.

"They're performing for more than just the church," Call said. "The church also wants us to help people and spread the word. This is a certainly a good way of doing it with the music. By doing good through it, we draw attention to God and the church and the good that can be done in the community."

Crisp said the choir members like the challenge of a good musical event to perform at as well as listening to other musical performers to see what can be done.

"I've only been here about a year-and-half and I really get into it," she said. "We have a lot of people who have been at the church and in music a lot longer. We have one member who has been here more than 40 years. There's a tremendous amount of history and knowledge here."

She said the Performing Arts Series is adding to that history while helping to build a fine tradition in music for the church.

"We get calls from different people outside the church about the performing arts, but people in the church enjoy it as well, both performing and listening," she said.

Crisp cited an upcoming concert of Bach's Cantata #80 on March 20 as one example.

"It's beautiful music," she said. "It appeals to so many people and it's not just what some people would traditionally consider just church music. It appeals to a broad spectrum. It's certainly a challenge learning the German, but great music does challenge you to perform it well.

Call said appealing to a wide range of people and interest is one of the beautiful parts of music in general and the Performing Arts Series in particular to him.

"Not everybody will like the same thing or type of performance," he said. "But we do try and provide enough variety so that people will find something they enjoy listening to want to come to the concert and the church again."