MADISON — The Diocesan Hispanic Choir will be presenting a Concert of Favorite Hymns in Spanish on Saturday, May 16, at 8 p.m. at Holy Redeemer Church, 120 W. Johnson St.
“It is exciting,” says (María Antonia) Toni Kellor, “because we have never done this before.” The choir has had an annual Christmas Concert since it was started in September of 2001, but this year will have a Spring Concert instead.
Included on the list of hymns are two Our Lady of Guadalupe hymns, “Mañanitas” and “Mi Virgen Ranchera”; four Christmas carols, “Fum Fum Fum,” “Zumba Zumbale Al Pandero,” “A La Nanita Nana,” and “Los Peces En El Río”; two Lenten pieces, including “Con Estas Cenizas” (With These Ashes) by the fabulous Lourdes Montgomery; and six Hispanic favorite hymns which include “Pescador de Hombres” (Spain) and the Spanish translation of the Prayer of St. Francis.
The choir will be accompanied by a piano, a violin, three guitars, a bass, an accordion, plus many percussion instruments.
This year, the choir sang for a Mass at St. Mary Parish in Portage, for the Knights of Columbus’ Christmas Dinner, at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, and at a concert at St. Peter Parish in Madison.
The choir will also be performing more traditional pieces for Blackhawk School on May 28.
If you would like the choir to come sing for your church or organization, call Toni Kellor at 608-203-5529.
The singers come from many Spanish-speaking countries including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Equador, and Colombia, but many are “just Americans” of second or third generation immigrants. They all bring a fascinating outlook and influence to the music we sing. Come and enjoy!