DEKALB – The Christmas celebration gets an early start at East Central Community College, where the college’s Concert Choir is preparing for its annual fall concert of holiday music scheduled at 7 p.m. Thursday.

     This year’s program will be held at Clarke-Venable Baptist Church in Decatur, to accommodate the approximately 70 members of the talented group, directed by music instructor Vicki Blaylock. There is no charge for admission.

    Providing accompaniment will be music instructors Len Bobo on organ and Natalie Emmons on piano, and the ECCC Percussion Ensemble.

     “Our concert this year will include both secular and sacred selections along with some wonderful Christmas music,” said Blaylock. “We hope to fill the church to overflowing.”

     Selections include “Hallelujah, Amen” from “Judas Maccabaeus” by Handel; “Shout Glory” by Smith; “Gloria!” by Courtney; “Candlelight Carol” by Rutter; “Angels in Seven” by Kern; “The First Noel” by Forrest; “I Wish You Christmas” by Rutter; and “Personent Hodie” by Kern.

     Concert choir members and their respective high schools include: sopranos Morgan Bailey and Nicole Franklin, both of Philadelphia; Brittany Bobo, Union; Audrey Cannon, Northwest Rankin; Hailey Dunavant, Jamiah Gallaspy, Kimberly Joiner, Katherine Kline, Courtney Lanier, Kelsie Mann, Lindsey Miller, Emily Pace, Katie Reeves, Heather Roebuck, Tiffany Spence, Whitney Myers, Polly Vaughn and Monica Vincent, all of Newton County; Kristen Everett, Forest; Nickie Farmer, French Camp Academy; Lindsay Gibbs, Morton; Marissa Gordy and Tamara McPhail,  both of East Rankin Academy; Kelsi Hill, Nanih Waiya; Courtney Mackey, West Lauderdale; and Liz Withers, Neshoba Central; altos Ava Marie Adkins and Summer Richardson, both of Union; Anna Alexander, a home-schooled student from Little Rock; Ashley Amis, Celia Boggan, Cayla Engle, Ellen Gibbs, Jessy Harrison, Tiffany Hennington, Heather Hogue, Jenny Holyfield, Melody Mann, Andrea McSwain and Tiffany Sims, all of Newton County; Tiffany Benson and Megan Sharp, both of Neshoba Central; Jessica Cherry, Carthage; Hannah Clay and Laura Gunn, both of Lake; Brittany Harrison, Forest and Jeri Lyn Crosby, Scott Central; tenors Brandon Boulton and Ryan Gillis, both of Newton County; Matthew Dempsey, Louisville; Colby Harvey, Newton County Academy; Zack Hutson, McComb; Alvin Johnson and James Latiker, both of Carthage; Chris Johnson, Wingfield; Chad Mangum, Oak Hill Academy; and Chris Spence, Lake; and basses Tyler Barrett, Richard Ferguson, Cole Harris, Kirby Keith, Jason Mann, Tyler Reeves, Cody Strait and Tyler Yates, all of Newton County; Mark Gross and Austin Jay, both of Union; Tyler Comans, Sebastopol; and Josh Jarriel, Neshoba Central.