Ron Bayer returns year after year as director of the Kent-based Rainier Chorale because of the music and the people.
It didn’t take long for Bayer, in his 14th year as director, to discover members of the volunteer choir, now at 75 people, enjoy time with each other even outside of practice and performances.
“It’s a great group of people,” Bayer said. “This is one group where the people really know each other. There is a core group of 10 to 12 members who even take cruises together. They have fun when they make music and they enjoy each other’s company.”
The Rainier Chorale, which started in 1982, is made up of local singing talent aged 16 to older than 80.
“There’s even a few original members,” said Bayer, a professor of music and the fine arts chair at Green River Community College in Auburn. “I would say about the half of the group has been there since I started. We even have a dad, mom and their daughter this year.”
The Rainier Chorale gives at least three performances per year, including an annual Christmas concert.
The group will sing a mix of contemporary and traditional Christmas carols at its “A Christmas Festival” concert Dec. 5-6 at Kent United Methodist Church, 11010 S.E. 248th St. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 and 2 p.m. Dec. 6.
The concert will include about a half-dozen pieces, featuring the Rainier Brass Quintet, as well as four or five sing-along carols.
“We’ll do a lot of pieces from classical to contemporary Christmas carols,” Bayer said.
The choir presents a variety of music at the Christmas concerts. They will offer traditional songs such as “Deck the Halls” and “Angels We Have Heard on High.”
They will perform a medley of Gospel songs, a Columbian piece in Spanish, a Latin number and a contemporary Yuletide festival of carols called “Glad Tidings We Bring.”
“We offer concerts on a Saturday night for those who prefer an evening performance and on a Sunday afternoon for those who don’t want to be out late at night,” Bayer said. “Either way, it makes for a very enjoyable evening or afternoon.”
The venue of Kent United Methodist Church makes a great match for the choir.
“The church seats about 300 to 350 people and acoustically is really, really nice,” Bayer said. “We get nice-sized audiences and have sold out Christmas concerts in the past.”
Tickets are $16 for regular admission and $14 for students and senior citizens.
Choir members pay about $20 per month to belong to the group, in order cover the cost for the music. The group also raises money through grants, contributions from the public, an annual auction and ticket sales.
The Kent Arts Commission, the Auburn Arts Commission and the Boeing Co., are among the major contributors to the choir.
“We also have a part-time business manager,” Bayer said. “A lot of groups like this do not have that. That really helps us put out a professional product.”
About 75 percent of the choir members live in Kent, Bayer said. The choir also draws members from Auburn, Renton, Seattle and a few other cities.
The choir practices weekly at Cedar Heights Middle School in Covington. They put on concerts in December, March and June.
In fact, on March 14 the group will perform the “Mozart Requiem” at Benaroya Hall in Seattle along with the Everett, Cascadia, and Vashon choirs. On June 5-6, the the choir will perform a medley of Broadway favorites at Auburn Mountainview High School theatre.
The choir added a concert to the 2009-2010 schedule with a trip April 10-12 to perform in the Leavenworth Choir Festival.
In 2007, the Rainier Chorale added youth choirs for students in grade school, middle school and high school. For more information about the youth choirs, go to www.rainieryouthchoirs.org.
For information about how to join the Rainier Chorale, go to www.rainierchorale.org.
See the show
What: A Christmas Festival concert
When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5; 2 p.m. Dec. 6
Where: Kent United Methodist Church, 11010 S.E. 248th St.
Cost: $16 and $14
Tickets: www.rainierchorale.org or call 206-835-8888
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