Nelson, Thompson 'celebrate' 40 years of conducting choir
Courtesy photo Barb Nelson and Vicki Blake Thompson celebrate their combined 40 years of conducting the Bonners Ferry Community Choir Christmas Concert.
The Bonners Ferry Community Choir celebrates 40 years under the direction of conductors Vicki Blake Thompson and Barb Nelson. This will be their final BF Community Choir Christmas concert together.
“CELEBRATE!” will be offered at 7:30 p.m. Friday Dec. 15 and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 6784 Cody St. in Bonners Ferry. Suggested donation is $10 for adults, $6 for students, or $29 for an immediate family.
“CELEBRATE!” will feature a few favorites from the 40 Christmas concerts Nelson and Thompson have conducted for the Community Choir. Barb Nelson is now accompanist for the choir. She conducted the choir for 18 years. This will be the 22nd year for current conductor Vicki Blake Thompson. As Thompson said, “It is time to pass on the torch. Hopefully our new conductor will carry on the tradition in 2018 and beyond.”
The concert features about 70 area singers, with Todd Kelner from Creston, B.C. on euphonium (baritone horn), Shirley Cameron from Creston and Jim Thompson on EWI (electronic wind instruments), and Jeff Hunsaker on piano. Several singers from past years will be joining the choir from as far away as Logan, Utah and Portland, Ore.
The new conductor for the Christmas choir will be introduced at the performances.