When COVID-19 hit, the Longs Peak Chorus, or LPC, struggled to adapt to pandemic mandates which challenged the group’s abilities to practice four-part a capella harmonies in person and perform them for live audiences — activities which have been the cornerstones of LPC since its birth in 1948.
As it turns out, Zoom meetings aren’t conducive to fulfilling all organizations’ needs — especially ones rooted in the arts. According to Jim Hopper, LPC’s advertising chair and chorus member, the group’s vocal practices took place via Zoom for a 13 month period, “which (didn’t) work very well for us singers,” he said.
This hardship was compounded by an indefinite halt of opportunities for the group to perform in front of live audiences.
Following a nearly two-year break since the group has “done anything of significance,” Kevin Pape, LPC’s vice president of music and performance said, the chorus will finally return to the stage next month for a special performance.
LPC will resume their annual holiday performances in Together Again for the Holidays, a two-day show series which will take place on Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. at the Heart of Longmont Church. Last year, the chorus was forced to take a hiatus from this annual LPC tradition — one which hadn’t been broken in decades.
According to an LPC press release, tickets to attend this year’s performances are free of cost “to celebrate finally having an opportunity to sing for our friends and family again.”
Tickets can be purchased here or by calling 720-675-8247.
For Hopper, the upcoming performances symbolize the end of the unfortunate restraints the group faced throughout the pandemic.
“It feels wonderful to sing together again after over a year,” he said. “(LPC members are) really pumped to be doing (the performances). I’m really looking forward to it.”
In particular, Hopper looks forward to sharing the stage with the Colorado Spirit Sweet Adelines Chorus, an all-women a capella based in Boulder, in the upcoming shows, he said.
According to Pape, along with live performances of some of their favorite Christmas songs, Together Again at the Holidays attendees can expect to follow a storyline throughout the show, he said, that will send a greater, Christmas-themed message.
As per tradition of this event, the first part of the show will be secular and the second half will include spiritual themes.
This year’s Christmas shows represent a sort of renewal or homecoming for the group, Pape said, of returning to LPC roots and singing during the holidays again.
“For the performance, a lot of it is to get back together and enjoy the love of singing, not only as a performer but also as an audience member,” Pape said.
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