NGCC added two new concert venues this season, in Gainesville at First Presbyterian Church, and in Dawsonville at Grace Presbyterian Church.

On Saturday, November 9, 2013, NGCC joined the throngs of shoppers and visitors in the Fellowship Hall at Dahlonega Baptist Church. At 11:30 we sang through the Christmas portion of our program. Because of the venue, it was hard for us to hear ourselves and hard for the audience to hear us, but folks were doing their best to listen as they walked around and looked at all the wonderful crafts and Christmas gifts. It was a good experience for us to sing in public for the first time this season.

April 11, 2013: Inspired by watching countless “Flash mob” events on YouTube, we decided to get in on the action at a humble local level! Thanks to the tireless efforts of chorus parents Ivy Spraker and Nicole Turney, a number of restaurants and shops were contacted. Taking a segment of our Hymns from the Heart program and putting together a small string band, we performed 15 minute mini-concerts at Moe’s restaurant, Walmart in Dahlonega, and out on the Square in front of Paul Thomas Chocolates. Still coming up- two Chik-Fil-A restaurants, in Dahlonega and Dawsonville, an appearance at Bear on the Square, and a guest appearance as the warm-up act for the Mountain Music and Medicine Show.

Chik-Fil-a was our host at both the Dahlonega and Dawsonville locations. Many thanks for free ice cream “tips” in Dahlonega and discounted meals in Dawsonville! CFA, you are awesome!

Singing at Bear on the Square was a first! We had a full house despite the competition of the many outdoor activities on a gorgeous spring day, and the singers did a wonderful job. The energy was high! We sang our entire 40-minute program at the festival. At the Mountain Music & Medicine Show, we performed our Road Show to an enthusiastic audience before the live broadcast, and enjoyed being in the lights onstage at the historic Holly Theater!

On Saturday, February 12th, 2011, six members of the Performance Choir travelled to Alpharetta to participate in the Choristers Guild Youth Festival. Directors Janey Chapman and Ruth Purcell, and our accompanist Hannah Chapman, were there to cheer on our girls as they sang with a 150-voice choir made up of around 15 different youth choirs from all over the southeast. (We were the only commmunity choir; the rest were church choirs.) It was a real treat for them to experience singing SATB literature and to meet some new friends who share their love of singing. It was quite impressive to see and hear what could be accomplished when each of the choirs had prepared ahead of time, and then got together with a competent and highly motivating director (James Wells, Brentwood TN UMC) who brought the music and the singers all together with one mind and one heart. We were so smitten with the pieces that we are trying to borrow a few tenors and basses from Lumpkin County High School to join us on our spring concerts so we can perform a couple of the compositions!