Cherokee National Holiday plans array of music
Friday, 07 August 2009
TAHLEQUAH, Okla.--Music lovers will have a variety of offerings this year during the 57th Cherokee National Holiday.
The award-winning Cherokee National Youth Choir will perform in concert at the Crescent Valley Baptist Church at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3. The church is located off Highway 62 south, at 25641 S. Crescent Valley Rd.
"I would like to invite everyone to the Cherokee National Youth Choir's Holiday concert; we will be singing songs from our newest CD, 'Learning as We Sing,' which should be released in early September, hopefully in time for the Cherokee Holiday," said Mary Kay Henderson, director of the Cherokee National Youth Choir.
"We will also include old favorites such as 'Orphan Child' and 'One Drop of Blood.'
The Holiday will also offer several chances to hear some great gospel singing over the remainder of the Labor Day weekend. Friday and Saturday evening events will take place under the red, white and blue tent just west of the Cherokee Nation Complex.
The first chance to hear and even participate in some gospel singing will be Friday night, Sept. 4, beginning with the open mic night. Sign-in is at 6 p.m. Singing will begin at 7 p.m. and all groups are invited to come and participate in the fellowship.
Saturday Sept. 5, beginning at 5:30 p.m., several featured groups will sing. New Creations, Lively Stones, Native Voices and the Drywater Family will perform, with special guests the Crabb Family Revival from Hendersonville, Tenn. following their performances.
On Sunday morning another opportunity to hear gospel singing will take place at the worship service that begins at 10 a.m. at the Sequoyah chapel on the campus of Sequoyah Schools. Music will be led by Norman and Janie Carey, and Rev. Jim Foreman and Kathryn Foreman will speak.
In addition to these exciting events, the public is also invited to come by earlier on Saturday to listen to the Holiday fiddlers contest that starts at 1 p.m., at the Talking Leaves Job Corps gymnasium located at 5700 Bald Hill Rd.
The Cherokee National Holiday has been held since 1953 to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the 1839 Cherokee Constitution. With its exciting array of entertainment, cultural and athletic events, it has grown into one of the largest festivals in Oklahoma, attracting more than 90,000 visitors from across the world.
This year's theme is elohi nusdidanv degadelaquasgesdi ("I learn from all that I observe"), reflecting the Cherokee Nation's long held belief in education as a means to uplift individuals and their communities. The 57th Cherokee National Holiday is a smoke-free event. For more information about the Cherokee National Holiday, please call (918) 453-5536 or visit http://holiday.cherokee.org.
All music events are free and open to the public.
Last Updated ( Friday, 07 August 2009 )