Christmas on Chippewa grows into true community event with 11 choirs, companies participating

As the artistic director of the award-winning Austin (Texas) Children’s Choir, Kathleen Turner was excited to share her musical talents with the city of Savannah after settling in as organist and director of music at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on Skidaway Island.

Last May her idea became a reality when she established the 24 Children’s Choir, a community group that operates through the church’s Creative Arts Academy. Turner earned a double bachelor of arts degree in organ and oboe from New York’s Eastman School of Music and a master of music degree from Westminster Choir College.

“We are 24 Children’s Choir, and we have serious fun with music,” Turner explained.

The fledgling 24 Children’s Choir will be one of several groups participating in “Christmas on Chippewa,” Dec. 10 at First Baptist Church on the square. Turner said she decided to become involved in the event after she received an invitation from the Rev. Dr. Justin Addington, minister of music and organist at First Baptist.

“He is a close and cherished colleague since my relatively recent move to Savannah in January 2022,” she said. “I accepted his invitation in this collaborative venture knowing we would meet other musical ensembles doing the same things we love doing.”

The holiday event, which begins at 6 p.m. Sunday, will combine music, theater and dance. Admission is free but a love offering will be taken.

Other participants joining the 24 Children’s Choir include:

• Savannah Children’s Choir

• Savannah Stage Company

• Gretchen Greene School of Dance

• First Baptist Church Choir

• First Baptist Church Handbell Choir

• Holiday Harmonies

• Savannah Flute Choir

• Savannah Men’s Chorale

• Savannah Trombone Choir

• Spectra Treble Choir

Christmas concert is a decade-old tradition

Christmas on Chippewa Square is a First Baptist Church tradition that was started about 10 years ago. Addington said the event was originally conceived as a church talent show but has expanded through the years.

“The First Baptist Church Music Ministry presented the bulk of the program in 2021 since it was the first Christmas back in the church since the pandemic,” he explained. “Last year, the Christmas on Chippewa Square Concert was an all keyboard program, featuring the pianists and organists of the church in celebration of our pipe organ’s 100th anniversary. This year, to coincide with our new minister’s vision for reaching out to the community, we decided to make it a true community concert, featuring community ensembles, several of which have connections to our church.”

The new Savannah men’s chorale was sponsored by First Baptist and rehearses in the church’s education building. The new Spectra choir, Savannah Stage Company, and Savannah Children’s Choir also rehearse in our building. The flute choir and the trombone choir have performed in our worship services recently and one of our teenage church members is a member of the Gretchen Greene dance.”

The program will feature a little something for everyone, including sacred and secular music, said Addington, who is a member of Holiday Harmonies..

“There will be special readings interspersed throughout, and the congregation will have the opportunity to sing some beloved Christmas carols.”

If You Go >>

What: “Christmas on Chippewa”

When: 6 p.m., Dec. 10

Where: First Baptist Church Sanctuary, 223 Bull St., Savannah

Tickets: Free, but love offering welcome

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: First Baptist Church of Savannah hosts Christmas on Chippewa Square