DENMARK -- The Bamberg County Chorale presented the third of three consecutive Christmas concerts under the direction of Walter Bryant and accompanist Elizabeth Hutto at Bethel Park United Methodist Church in Denmark Saturday evening.

The Christmas concert season was a little a different for the Chorale, however, as the member found themselves performing without their founder, the late Paul Whitaker Jr.

The Bamberg County Chorale was the creation of Whitaker’s desire to bring choral music to Bamberg County and to provide an outlet for those who enjoy singing. He was the Chorale’s director from its inception in 1991 until he retired in September 2003. Retirement did not deter Whitaker from staying active with the Chorale. Members say even after retirement, Whitaker was a key member of the organization, even straying from his specialty area of baritone when necessary to pitch in when needed as a tenor or bass.

In a addition to being well-known in the community for directing and singing with the Chorale, Whitaker was also a member of the Palmetto Master Singers of Columbia. He was active in the South Carolina Federation of Music Clubs, National Federation of Music Clubs, the Apollo Music Club and his church, Trinity United Methodist Church in Bamberg, where he served as director of the Chancel Choir for many years and as director of the Amy Whitaker Handbell Choir.

Whitaker’s colleagues all agree that his passing on Nov. 28 created a tremendous void in the music world, both locally and nationally. The dedication in the program for Saturday’s performance read in part: “He will be missed by all of those who were fortunate enough to sing songs or ring bells under his direction.”

For about an hour and 20 minutes, the Bamberg County Chorale entertained the audience with a variety of Christmas tunes including some that were traditional and others that were not as familiar.

About halfway through the performance, the men’s chorus performed a medley titled, “Sing Men at Christmas,” which was arranged by Fred Bock and included “While By the Sheep,” “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and “Be Near Me, Lord Jesus.”

Before the Chorale took the stage again, the Handbell Choir performed a number of Christmas pieces, and the full Chorale closed the program with “The Child Lay in the Cloth and Hay” by Carl Schalk and “O Holy Night/Silent Night” arranged by Craig Courtney.

A reception was held in the church’s social hall following the program. The Chorale performed at Trinity UMC in Bamberg on Friday and at The Methodist Oaks in Orangeburg on Thursday.

Members of the Chorale are: sopranos, Ramona Anderson, Mimbee Baker, Ginnie Bowes, Eleanor Guess, Beulah Hand, Laura Hoffman, Hattie James, Sylvia Krajna, Chris Ness, Kathy Rhoad and Helen Steedley; tenors, Jonathan Davis, Mac Davis, Emma Dowling, Joel Hand, Barney Osborne, Ted Robertson, Charles Swindell and Jack Turner; altos, Dale Bryant, Robin Chavis, Mary Frances Harrison, Eleanor Mason, Becky Swindell, Anne Tindall and Peggy Turner; bass, Bill Humphries, Harvey Kling, Walter Martin, Ed Merwin, Byron Tindall and David Whitaker and baritones, Robert Smoak and Tommy Tant.

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