Perry County Lutheran Chorale releases Christmas CD

The Perry County Lutheran Chorale is pleased to announce the release of their first Christmas CD, entitled "A Perry County Christmas", on November 27th.

This CD is comprised of Christmas selections from the last two years of performances and enhanced by orchestral accompaniment. "The orchestra adds a warm, harmonious feeling to the beautiful blend of voices, giving a very relaxing tone to the CD" director Wunderlich adds. The actual recordings were made at Shuck Hall on the River Campus of Southeast Missouri State University. Selections on the CD include favorites such as "Away in a Manger", "O Holy Night" and Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus". Also included are select movements from the cantata Prepare Him Room "A Silent Holy Night" and "Angels".

The Perry County Lutheran Chorale was founded in January 2006 and is finishing its sixth year. The group is comprised of members from area Lutheran Churches. The Chorale's director is Perry County native, Tyson Wunderlich. Tyson brings to the Chorale an array of musical talent, endless energy and creative ideas. He is a graduate of Perryville High School and Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor's degree in piano performance. Tyson received his master's degree in wind conducting from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. In addition to directing the Perry County Lutheran Chorale, he teaches music at Saxony Lutheran High School in Jackson and Trinity Lutheran School in Cape Girardeau.

This past summer the Chorale traveled to Chattanooga, Tennessee to perform a concert to aid in the disaster relief efforts in the Southeast. With the help of matching funds from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, all proceeds from the concert were forwarded to the local Thrivent chapters to provide relief for those effected from the tornadoes in the Southeast. "It was a great way to use our God-given talents to bring peace, patience and financial assistance to those in need", states Wunderlich.

The mission of the Chorale is "to act as an extension of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in proclaiming the good news and grace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people through song and word; and to prepare and present classical and contemporary choral repertoire in our local settings and beyond."

"A Perry County Christmas" will be available for purchase for $15.00 at all the Perry County Lutheran Churches, Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Ste. Genevieve, and St. Andrew Lutheran Church and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau beginning on November 27th. Proceeds from the sale of the CD will be used to further the mission of the Chorale. After that date the CD's will be available at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville, the Thrivent office in Frohna, the Altenburg Museum, by calling 573-547-6363 or by emailing the Chorale at pclutheranchorale@gmail.com.

The Perry County Lutheran Chorale will perform an after Christmas Concert on January 8th at 4:00 PM at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells. For more information on the Chorale and upcoming concerts and events, visit our website at www.lutheransonline.com/pclc.