12/27/07
S’ton Christmas Concert gets crowd in holiday spirit
By Jerriod Grizzle

JERRIOD GRIZZLE/Manning Times

The St. Marks Children’s Choir performs “How Shall I Send Thee,” during the Christmas Concert last Sunday at St. Marks AME. The choir, ranging in age from four to teenagers was one of the biggest hits at the parade.

Sunday was a special occasion for the town of Summerton as Linzy and Karen Washington celebrated 26 years putting on their annual Christmas concert.

Hailed by the audience as “terrific” and “wonderful,” the 90-minute concert drew a crowd of 100-plus people of all creeds and colors to St. Marks AME church.

“We try to convey the Christmas message and bring Christmas to everyone as well as getting the children involved,” said Rev. Ernest Brown, pastor of St. Mark’s.

Brown has been pastoring the church for the last 13 years.

He said that every year the concert turns out many people and really gets people in the holiday spirit.

The evening included classic and contemporary Christmas songs performed by Linzy Washington, Elaine Elmore and Rep. Cathy Harvin.

The concert included crowd favorites such as a duet with Elmore and Linzy Washington, “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire),” Karen Washington’s rendition of “Ave Maria” and Harvin’s version of “Lo How a Rose ‘ere Blooming.”

Harvin later got a standing ovation for “The Christmas Hymn.”

The highlight of the night was the Children’s Choir of St. Marks performing three songs. The children ranged in age from four to teenage years and they delighted the crowd.

As is tradition at the concerts, Santa arrived on the scene to hand out presents to good boys and girls. Santa sang his own theme song “Santa Claus is coming to Town” and with the children’s choir joining in, the crowd at the concert were enthused as the echoes of the verses could be heard throughout the church.

The night ended on a high note for the crowd when all of the performers celebrated another popular Christmas song for the famous concert, “Jesus What a Wonderful Name.”

After the concert, the performers were not only relieved but also overjoyed at the standing ovation they received from the crowd.

“It went really well,” said Harvin. “We did not have much opportunity to practice but it was one of our better performances.”

Elmore, an avid performer and vocalist said during rehearsal the excitement about the holidays was evident.

“Every evening as we had practice, we got more and more ready for the holidays,” she said.