Hundreds gather for annual Christmas concert at Trinity Lutheran Church

Ellen Hendrickson said she was so impressed by the talent of Hagerstown Choral Arts Inc. that she made the 45-minute drive from her home in Damascus, Md., to see the choir perform its annual Christmas concert Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church.

She said she not only wanted to hear her mother, Susan Hendrickson, sing as part of the ensemble, but also to absorb the blend of Christmas and classical music with her 2-year-old son, Liam McWilliamson.

"I've been to one of the concerts before and it was wonderful," she said. "It's just the variety of music and it's very professionally done. It's very pleasant to listen to."

Hendrickson was one of several hundred people who filled the stone church on Randolph Avenue to near-capacity as an organ accompanied the choir in a stirring version of "O Come All Ye Faithful" and other Christmas favorites.

The featured work was a classical piece — Antonio Vivaldi's "Gloria."

Gregory Shook, music and artistic director of Hagerstown Choral Arts Inc., said the 65-member choir started 22 years ago and has been going strong ever since.

He said the group collaborates with other local organizations, such as the Hagerstown Municipal Band and the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, and has performed at local churches and schools.

The annual Christmas concert, he said, is one of the ways the choir tries to increase awareness and appreciation of music among the public. 

"It's a way of sharing with the community what we do, what we're about," Shook said.

Mary Rosborough, who lives near Boonsboro at Fahrney Keedy Home & Village, said she first heard about the Christmas concert five years ago and has attended the event faithfully.

"They always do such a nice, varied concert," she said. "It's hard to find classical music concerts. ... This is one of the outstanding things in this town, I think."

An employee of Trinity Lutheran Church for the past 27 years, Ricky Stoner said one of the highlights of his job has been attending "pretty much every concert."

"I look forward to it each year," he said. "It's very (up)lifting as people gather for the season. I just stand back and soak it all in."