20 years of making music
Festival of Choirs to be Sunday
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

The 20th Annual Festival of Choirs sponsored by the South Ripley Ministerial Association will take place on Sunday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m. at C.I. Family Worship.

Directing for the first time is Eric Stauffer, choir director at Tyson United Methodist Church and band director for South Ripley Community School Corporation.

Choirs from churches in the area as well as the Golden Gate Choir will present special numbers prior to the combined festival choir. Mrs. Ellen Mulford is piano accompanist for the combined choirs.

Pastor Wilbur Hallman was responsible 20 years ago for getting the combined choir together with his wife Cathy as director. The first two festivals took place at the Versailles Baptist Church. Accompanist was Ruth Hunger.

When the event outgrew the Versailles Baptist Church, it was moved to C.I. Family Worship, where it has continued for the past 17 years. Mary Margaret Moorhead, choir director at the Versailles Baptist Church, has directed the combined choir during these years, but chose to retire after last year's program.

Rehearsals are scheduled for Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and again Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at C.I. Family Worship. Pastor Roger Dean, president of the SRMA, invited the community to attend the Festival of Choirs on Sunday night at 6:30 p.m.