For the Cumberland Times-News
OAKLAND — The 11th annual Joy of Christ Celebration will be held in the Oakland Community Center, formerly the Oakland Armory, Monday through Friday, Dec. 7-11, starting daily at 6:30 p.m.
The community-centered event is completely funded by business sponsors, area churces and private donations with no donations requested or accepted during the event.
For five days, anyone can come out to enjoy free Christmas concerts, a free meal and refreshments, free compact discs that are given away by many of the performers, children’s activities and educational activities.
“The Joy of Christ Celebration seeks to provide the community with a nondenominational break from the commercialism of Christmas by focusing on the birth of Christ through free concerts, activities and community interaction,” said organizer Paul Browning. “New visitors are amazed that we can provide everything for free.”
The schedule is as follows:
• Monday, Dec. 7: Lois Sanders, vocalist, 6:30 p.m.; Teal Steel, 6:40 p.m.; The Durst Brothers, 7:30 p.m.; Landon’s Library/St. Paul’s Youth, 8:15 p.m.
• Tuesday, Dec. 8: The Remley Family, 6:30 p.m; The Jenny Wilson Jazz Trio, 7 p.m.; Just 4 Fun quartet, 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 9: Linda Anderson, 6:30 p.m.; Greg Latta, hammered dulcimer, 7 p.m.; Garrett Highlands Pipes & Drums, 8 p.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 10: Sharon Honsaker, southern gospel music, Masontown, Pa., 6:30 p.m.; Nazarene Children’s Bell Choir, 7 p.m.; the Mountain Anthems Mixed Chorus, 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 11: Scotch Mist, a musical duo consisting of Lynne Dale on Celtic harp and Roger Dale on recorders, 6:30 p.m.; Maria Rose and Danny Elswick, 7:30 p.m.; Still Kickin’ Cloggers, 8 p.m.
The Garrett Highlands Pipes and Drums, under the direction of Gerald McGee, has been performing in concert and parade for more than 25 years throughout the region.
Latta is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter who plays the hammered dulcimer, guitar, banjo, harmonica, recorder and Appalachian dulcimer.
Pianist Wilson and her jazz trio performs a wide variety of jazz repertoire, in the classic piano trio setting.
Just 4 Fun consists of Kevin McKenzie (lead) and Roger Anderson (bass), who are members of the Chorus of the Potomac in Cumberland, and Lisa Tompkins (tenor) and Wendy Anderson (baritone), who sing in a ladies quartet, Chordially Yours.
Rose and Elswick can be seen often on the “Midwest Country” nationwide TV show on RFD-TV. They’ve released a DVD and many CDs, including the latest, “Originals,” featuring songs written by Rose. In August 2009, they were inducted into the “Midwest Country Music Hall of Fame” and also received the “Gospel CD of the Year” Award.
The Mountain Anthems, under the direction of Menno Beachy, comes from the Allegheny Mountains of Western Maryland and Western Pennsylvania, and are members of the Mountain View Mennonite Church, Salisbury Pa. They have been singing a capella for about 40 years on a volunteer basis.
Scotch Mist performs Celtic, folk and light classical music. Since their partnership started, they have performed in Maryland, West Virginia and Northern Virginia at a variety of weddings, Celtic gatherings, concerts and other occasions.
Honsaker has been singing publicly since she was a child. She performs mostly at regional churches and hymn-sings while living in Masontown, Pa., with her husband, Darwin, and son, Ryan where she helps milk cows on the family farm.
Teal Steel is a steel drum ensemble created in January 2004. Under the direction of Fred Kesner, the group performs Caribbean and Latin style music as well as pop tunes and classic rock. Teal Steel has performed for many audiences at concerts, festivals, and special events throughout West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia.
Rodney and Dennis Durst perform country and gospel music and have recorded a new album, titled “Sure Enough Good Time,” which will be released in January.
