On a rainy Sunday afternoon, more than 100 people attended the Emmaus Chorale concert at the Faith Presbyterian Church on North Second Street in Emmaus recently.

This year’s theme was “Sing as One! Tales of Lore, Love and Memories.”

Donald Ryan served as conductor and Cecily Ryan was the guest conductor. Cindy Kerr served as the accompanist for the event.

Chorale Chairperson Bonnie Day welcomed the audience and asked, “How better to spend a rainy afternoon?”

Cecily Ryan led the chorale in the opening selection, “We Sing of Golden Mornings” by Neil Ginsberg.

Donald Ryan noted the next selection “Sing Gently” by Eric Whitacre was written for a virtual choir that included a combination of singers from more than 125 countries. “Ave Maria” by Gyorgy Orban followed before Cecily Ryan took over for “Sit Down Servant,” with arrangement by Stacey V. Gibbs.

Other selections included “Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair” by Appalachian Folk with arrangement by Stuart Churchill and brought chuckles from the audience.

Donald Ryan returned to lead “Dry Bones,” a spiritual song with arrangement by Mark Hayes in which Donald Ryan utilized approximately 10 different instruments as the chorale sang about each “bone connecting to” the next bone. Donald Ryan also shared how he had heard “Wanting Memories” from Crossings by Ysaye M. Barnwell at the Berks County Festival and felt its power in “wanting this memory of a loved one.”

After the short intermission, additional selections were performed including “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd” by Stephen Sondheim with arrangement by Andy Beck. But it was soprano Susan Creitz’s solo performance of “In Flanders Fields” by John Jacobson and Roger Emerson with Suzanne Seem on piano that moved audience members to tears.

The program ended with a “My Fair Lady” medley by Frederick Loewe with arrangement by Andy Beck. Familiar titles of “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “Wouldn’t It Be Lovely” and “Get Me to the Church on Time” had the audience humming along.

Chorale members include Susan Creitz and Bonnie Day of Macungie; Sally Banko, Emma Greenwood, Kathy Hontz, Kathryn Jones, Sharon Koehler, Deanna Robinson and Carol Ann Trout, all of Allentown; Jeanne Hoover, of Lehighton; Leah Hoover, of Hamburg; Cecily Ryan, of Boyertown; Pam Kiser and Dawn Sanderlin, of Breinigsville; Beth Sarmir, of Alburtis; Chuck Ballard, Carolyn Baittinger, Phyllis Gruber, Nancy Keeler, Molly Sebastian and Suzanne Seem, all of Emmaus; David Follweiler and Elisabeth Long, of New Tripoli; Glen Snyder, Pat Snyder and Sandy Walker, all of Zionsville; Tim Bagnull, of Bethlehem; Gregory Kerr, of Coopersburg; Wayne Luckenbill and Donald Ryan, of Kutztown.

The Emmaus Chorale began in 1983 and has been making music together for the past 42 years in the East Penn area. More than 30 experienced singers from the Lehigh Valley and beyond join voices in singing a variety of music that includes sacred, secular, classic and contemporary pieces.

The Emmaus Chorale offers two free events each year in spring and fall. Members of “all ages and backgrounds unite through song for shared purpose.” All practices and performances are held at Faith Presbyterian Church, 3002 N. Second St., Emmaus.

The Emmaus Chorale thanks its sponsors, benefactors and patrons for helping them spread unity through music throughout the area.