Written by Kathryn Staley
Every spring, members of the Harding Concert Choir dress in their finest formals for a night of fellowship and good food. The spring banquet has been a tradition of the Concert Choir from the beginning.
Concert Choir began in 1987 under the direction of Dr. Arthur Shearin, who stepped down as director last May. The banquet started in spring of ’88 and has continued every year since, usually in February. This year’s choir enjoyed the fun of the spring 2010 banquet Saturday, Feb. 13.
The banquet is held atAnne’s Bridal, located across the street from campus. Members of the choir are encouraged to take one another to the banquet as dates. Food is provided, and choir members join together at large tables to talk and enjoy a dinner away from the cafeteria.
A year-in-review slideshow, made by the choir’s historians, is shown after everyone has eaten. Jen Gibson and R.C. Tucker are this year’s historians.
“I didn’t know what to expect. The students handled everything, so I got to sit back and enjoy it. I had a great time,” says Dr. Kelly Neill, the choir’s current director. Neill took over for Shearin in fall of 2009 and experienced the banquet for the first time this year.
The price for the banquet is covered by the student’s dues, which are paid at the beginning of the year. Any student wanting to bring a date who is not a member of choir was required to pay $20 in order to attend.
Members are encouraged to dress in formalwear but are allowed to choose their own level of formal. Nearly all of the female members are in formal dresses. However, male members can be seen in a suit and tie, or khakis and a dress shirt.
The spring banquet has been a tradition of the Harding Concert Choir since it began and will continue to be an important part of being a choir member, members said.
