Reviewer: Mark DeWolf-Ott
Venue: The Temple Theatre
It was a grand afternoon of vocal and musical talent. It is amazing how lucky and privileged we are to have such talent in the Greater Saginaw Bay Area for 90 years. The theme was ‘Cheers for 90 Years’. Jeremiah J. Kraniak Artistic Director and Conductor congratulated everyone with a well done and hope for 90 more years of performances to come.
The 46-member chorus sang favorites of audiences, conductors and singers with a wide variety of hymns, classics, show tunes, and modern arrangements. The list included songs by Brahms and Beethoven, Rice and Lloyd/Webber, “Annies Song” by John Denver, and a medley from Les Misérables.
Featured artists were:
Andy Grefe returned and performed “Teach your Children Well” previously heard at a Crosby, Stills, and Nash SCS Fundraiser.
Billy Petty, former Christmas Concert tenor, performed Schubert’s Ave Maria, He also sang “Any Dream Will Do” with The Saginaw Youth choir, an encore song from SCS Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat production.
Tood Michael Hall, who previously sang at two Christmas concerts, performed “Mary Did You Know” a contemporary Christmas song with rock star skills.
Olivia Greanias reprised her Dorothy with “Over the Rainbow” another of the SCS choral productions.
Grefe Gaus Grefe was joined by the entire ensemble for the finale which was “Come Sail Away” originally sang by 70’s band Styx.
Emerald Joiner-Christianson, Director of the Saginaw Youth Choir and Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy Singers joined Billy Petty and the Saginaw Youth choir in the ‘Joseph’ song.
Danielle Davis was a standout with “I Dream a Dream”, in the Le Mis Medley.
The Saginaw Choral Society sang the song “Hymn to Music” written and played by Catherine McMichael who is also the groups accompanist.
The SASA Singers joined the SCS singing “The Rainbow Connection” and “The Awakening”.
The performance was followed by an Afterglow displaying Saginaw Choral Society photos and memorabilia in the Leopard Lounge of the Temple Theatre.