STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Last June some 50 members of the Caritas Chorale filed across the stage and filled the auditorium at the Community Campus with lilting, uplifting songs that seemed to bounce around the theater like sun rays streaking from one corner to the next.
The performance sent audience members out the door with a jaunty step and smiles stretching across their faces.
Well, guess what, folks—they’re back for an encore performance.
“Get Happy” when the Caritas Chorale presents its second annual “Day of Hope and Light” concert.
The free concert will start at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at the Wood River High School Performing Arts Theatre. And Caritas Chorale will be joined by WRHS’s B-Tones men’s chorus and Enchante girls chorus.
The concert will include such upbeat selections as “Get Happy” and “Blue Skies,” as well as inspirational numbers like “Thankful,” said Caritas President Richard Stahl.
It will also include one of Rowsey’s personal favorites—“All Good Gifts” from “Godspell”--which will feature a solo by John Mauldin.
The song talks about plowing the fields and scattering good seed on the land to have it fed and watered by God’s almighty hand.
“The musical selections span the emotional gamut from meditative, thoughtful kinds of songs to happy ones. And they feature timely messages,” said Stahl.
Last year’s “Day of Hope and Light” featured various musical groups ranging from an elementary school chorus to the Sun Valley Hallelujah Chorus singing in various venues stretching from Bellevue Memorial Park in the south to Ketchum’s Forest Service Park in the north.
But engaging so many locations proved such a challenge that organizers opted to present everyone in one location this year, said Stahl.
“The response to last year’s program was so positive that we couldn’t help but do it again,” said Rowsey. “People said ‘Ohmigosh, it was so fun.’ And, ‘Ohmigosh it makes me feel so good.’ I think any time we can give everybody an afternoon of positivity like that that’s not bad.”
Rowsey said he is delighted to be joined by two of the younger groups in the valley. The B-Tones feature about two dozen high school boys. And Enchante is a non-audition group that works hard to continually improve.
“We want to support our young musicians. And it’s really cool that R.L. has been able to get so many guys finding enjoyment in singing because sometimes singing is not considered a cool thing for guys to do,” said Stahl. “It’s fun to see kids so excited about harmony. And I’m told they even suggest their own arrangements of songs.”
Rowsey said the Chorale’s goal is to offer a fun, accessible program for the entire family. And at about 45 minutes the concert won’t take too much time out of the day.
“I believe that music is one of the tools we use to get through challenging times, and we want to have a great and grand time,” he said. “I continue to believe that every community needs music, and we are proud to be part of the vibrant choral fabric of this community.”
Of course, all comers are welcome to join in—there are no auditions for Caritas Chorale.
“I’ve done singing my whole life--it’s the kind of hobby that can continue throughout your life,” said Stahl. “You might not be able to ski as well at 70 as you did when you were younger. But you can always keep singing.”