Celebrate “Family Christmas” Dec. 3 at Memorial Center

A “Family Christmas,” with guest Cellist Matt Wellert, will be performed at Libby’s Memorial Center 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017.

The concert, directed by Tony Smith, will include a variety of traditional Christmas numbers presented by the “Going to the Sun Voices” — Patricia Morford, Crystal Webley, Pamela Norman, Andrea Wandler, Julie Meyer, Mora Maynard, Gloria Olds, Diane Rewerts, Marv Sather, Rich Burns, Chris Reichert, Kelly Palmer and Sharon Smith Scott — and soloists Julie Meyer, Tony Smith, Kelly Palmer, Patricia Morford, Diane Rewerts and Crystal Webley, as well as pianists Nita Smith, Sharon Smith Scott, Tony Smith and bassist Jim Scott.

Highlights will include the Libby Children’s Select Choir and violinist Renee Rose.

The concert will open with the “Voices” singing “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Go Tell it on the Mountain” and “The Christmas Song,” aka “Chestnuts Roasting On an Open Fire,” and conclude with all “Voices,” the children, cello, violin and two pianos, on “Silent Night,” with audience participation.

An arrangement of “Where are you Christmas,” for cello and piano, will include a child soloist chosen by director Lorraine Braun from the select choir.

Matt Wellert, a Colombia native, was a guest at the 2013 Christmas concert. In addition to repeat performances of “O Come, O Come, Emanuel,” “Good King Wenceslas” and “Ave Maria,” he will also perform an A Capella Bach Invention in this year’s performance. When Wellert last appeared in Libby he was a freshman at the University of Montana; he is now entering graduate school as a cello performance major.

Nita Smith, who sang with the renown Robert Shaw Chorale in Carnegie Hall for nine consecutive years, will be his accompanist and arranger.

People are encouraged to arrive at the concert hall early for desirable parking and seats. The concert is free of charge, but donations to the Memorial Center are very much appreciated.