Superior Singers offer ‘Only Love’

The Superior Singers have been bringing the Christmas story to life in song for nearly two decades. But every year it gets a fresh twist.

“There’s so much (music) out there,” said director Brian MacDonell. “We’re just beginning to tap it.”

This year’s blend of melodies features a quartet of youth, known as the “Christmas angels,” and a powerful list of songs. A series of free performances of the Christmas concert, “Only Love,” kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Christ Lutheran Church in Superior and runs through Jan. 8.

“I love expressing myself through song,” said Bonnie Baker, who has been with the group for 18 years. The joy and emotion of their music sometimes moves her to tears on stage.

“We’re doing this for ourselves, but we’re also serving the community,” Baker said.

“It’s what we do during the holiday times,” said Pat Bergman, a 15-year veteran of the group. “I think it’s our gift to the community.”

The Superior Singers offers members more than a creative outlet.

“It’s like a family,” MacDonell said. “Everyone gets along. Music brings us together.”

Bergman and her husband, Don, enjoyed listening to the group perform, so they asked to join.

“We wanted to get in on the good time,” Bergman said.

That’s how two of the Christmas angels joined the choir this year. Eight-year-olds Elizabeth Gorny and Jayln Sheasby heard the Superior Singers perform their summer concert of Broadway tunes at Fairlawn Mansion and Museum.

“It sounded kind of cool,” Elizabeth said. The two friends, who love to sing, walked up and asked MacDonell if they could join. Being part of the Superior Singers is more challenging than music class at school, Elizabeth said, because there are so many more songs to sing.

“It’s fun,” agreed fellow youth choir member Lydia Bennis, 10. “I like singing.”

Andrew Lisak, 9, admitted that he has been known to break into song spontaneously. He loves all types of music, particularly ragtime. He was glad to be tapped to perform with the singers.

“I love them because they’re fun and you get into the groove,” Andrew said.

The youth are featured on a Jamaican-styled number, “Born in Bethlehem,” and sing with the adults for about eight of the 12 numbers. They add a subtlety to the show, MacDonell said, as well as youthful exuberance.

Just in time for the holidays, the singers are bringing their musical gift to the public. Everyone is invited to attend any of their 11 planned concerts.

For more information on the group or their concert schedule, call (218) 348-8314 or visit www.superiorsingers.com.

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