Huge crowd for “Christmas Peace” concert in Albion

Genesee Chorale, Albion students usher in the season

ALBION – A Christmas concert this afternoon was standing room only in the First Presbyterian Church with about 500 people filling the church pews.

The 70-member Genesee Chorale, directed by Ric Jones of Medina, performed the “Christmas Peace” concert that included several selections from Albion student musicians.

The concert is part of the Eastman at Albion series that started with three spring concerts in 2009. The group has added a Christmas concert the past four years.

Jones praised the community for turning out in force for the concert today.

“As performers you can’t imagine how awesome it is to see a slew of people in the audience,” Jones told the crowd.

The Chorale sang Christmas classics including “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” “Star In The East,” and several others.

Evan Steier plays the trumpet with other members of the brass ensemble in the balcony of the First Presbyterian Church.

Shannon Broda and the woodwind quintet perform “We Three Kings.”

Kelley Flanagan and the flute choir play “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas” while the women’s and men’s ensembles wait for their turn to sing.

The Eastman series continues in the spring with a concert by Mitzie Collins on March 9 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the return of Albion native Susan Fancher, a world-class saxophonist, on April 6 at the Prebyterian Church.