Children’s voices make music sweeter
This time of year, there’s a lot of Christmas music, whether it’s in the car, at the store or at church. In recordings, full orchestras play behind professional singers, yet some of the sweetest sounding Christmas music comes from little voices singing the traditional songs.
The Community Center had two opportunities to hear those sweet sounds recently when small carolers stopped by to sing.
On Dec. 13, more than 20 children ages 3-5 years from Lighthouse Learning Center in Boothbay brought their considerable singing talents to the Center. Starting at 10:30 that morning, the sounds of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Jingle Bells” filled the lobby, accompanied by jangling bells when appropriate. Both songs were captured on video that can be seen on the Center’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/boothbaycommunitycenter/
After the performance, Center volunteers and staff served milk and M&M cookies to the singers. And after refreshments, it was time for stories, read by Margaret Perritt, founding member of the Center’s board. Stories for the children were “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and “The 12 Days of Christmas,” with the pre-schoolers helping to count down the gifts starting with “5 golden rings.”
There was learning to be done after the snack and story and, true to its name, Lighthouse Learning Center owner Kim Hilgendorf and four helpers taught the youngsters how to make reindeer from pipe cleaners and candy canes. Center volunteer Connie Heroy dressed as an elf and handed each child a book to take home.
The second serenade came on Friday, Dec. 21, when around 20 students from grades K-6 at Southport Central School stopped in on their way to sing at St. Andrews Village and Boothbay Green.
Coordinated by Meredith Fowlie, guidance and cultural studies teacher, the Community Center hosted the students while they sang “We wish you a merry Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Jingle Bells” and 4 other songs.
The Southport children were also thanked with the gift of cookies as they made their way to the next stop to continue spreading Christmas cheer and a lot of smiles, too.
