Local church sings at Games

NORWOOD - Heavenly music escaped early Sunday morning from on-high.

It’s the melodic sound of a small Norwood choir that has been singing for 30 years every Sunday in church.

But this week, their stage is about to take a step outside their choir loft.

"We've never had the opportunity to compete, especially at a level like this," said Meg Whittman, a soprano in the Immaculate Conception of Norwood’s choir.

The Immaculate Conception Church in Norwood is tuning up for the World Choir Games, which is held in Cincinnati.

"It's going to be intense, it's going to be stressful, but everyone is very, very focused and very committed," said Whittman.

They almost didn't get in.

"It's funny because we didn't even consider the World Choir Games until January. And what happened was a lot of parishioners had approached us and said, 'Hey you know, we think you guys should really look into this,'" she said.

So they did — just under the wire. They talked it over that Sunday and turned in their application the day it was due, the next day on Monday.

"I knew it would be an exciting adventure, a wild ride," said Travis Yeager, the choir’s director and organist.

Singing is in the bag for them. But the one obstacle that they are not so ready for? Singing in front of people.

"Most of these folks have not sung in front of people since they were in high school choir," said Yeager.

So for the past six months, they have been practicing how to look as good as they sound.

"We're definitely ready; we've been singing this music for a while now. They know it really well. They're sounding really, really good and I can't wait to get out there and sing in front of everybody," Yeager said.

On July 11, during the World Choir Games, the Immaculate Conception choir will sing for a jury to decide if they will compete at the championship level in the Games. If not, they will compete at the amateur level.

The World Choir Games kick off on July 4 and go through July 14. There are more than 200 events that include competitions, concerts, workshops and nearly 60 free public performances.

Event officials are expecting 15,000 participants from around the world to travel to Cincinnati for the world's largest choir competition.