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SALEM - A gift of holiday music resounded throughout the First United Methodist Church in Salem Sunday afternoon as six choirs blended their voices for a rousing rendition of "Hallelujah" from Handel's Messiah.

Considered by some a fantastic finish, the familiar song capped off the Salem Music Study Club's 48th Annual Choir Festival to usher in the seasons of Advent and Christmas, that time of year when choral music lovers can find a free concert in almost every community.

"Where would these performers be if they didn't have an audience?" Salem Music Study Club President Marsha Wilson said prior to the concert.

"This is one way our group can share the gift of music and encourage people to have music in their lives. It brings people together," she said.

Leila Mitchell, another member of the Salem Music Study Club and chairman of the choir festival, estimated that more than 100 vocalists participated in the festival and the "Hallelujah" chorus finale.

"It's just very inspiring," she said.

A highlight of the concert was the performance of "Margie's Silent Night" by handbell ringers with the Salem Methodist Church Peace Ringers accompanied on violin by Yvonne Bennett. The song was arranged by Carl Wiltse in memory of Margie York, a Cleveland area resident who started the B&Y Music Company specifically to provide handbell music to choirs.

Her daughter, Lynn Young, who now owns the business, drove two hours to hear the performance, accompanied by Carmen Massaro, who helps out at the store. Wiltse's choir performed the new arrangement earlier this year, with about 100 choirs across the country planning to perform the song on Christmas Eve.

"People all over the United States knew my mom," she said, noting that they used to run a store for all types of music, but noticed the need for handbell music, which her mother supplied for more than 30 years to handbell choirs.

Her mother was in a handbell choir and played the violin, which was why Wiltse included a violin in the arrangement. Shortly after Margie died the night of Dec. 17 last year, Lynn's son, Scotty, who also played violin, was handed his grandmother's instrument. He played "Silent Night" for her.

"Mom always, always, said, 'It is not Christmas until you hear Silent Night,'" Lynn wrote in a letter to Wiltse just a few days after her death.

A free will offering taken during the concert will benefit the Grace Dyball Scholarships given to Salem junior or senior college students majoring in music and the Lois Frost Piano and Organ Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Choirs and the songs they performed included: Salem Emmanuel Lutheran Church Choir, "Alleluia for Advent," directed by Tom Drotleff and accompanied by Ila Jeanne Paxson; Salem First United Methodist Church Choir, "English Advent Carol," directed by Chris Brown and accompanied by Linda Peterson; Salem First Christian Church Covenant Choir, "People of the Light," directed by Attila Samu; Washingtonville Robbins United Methodist Church and Friends Choir, "Come on Down to Bethlehem," directed by Eileen Crawford; St. Paul Catholic Church Choir, "The Heavens Are Telling," directed by Joe McKim; and Kent Salem Community Choir, "What Is This Lovely Fragrance?," directed by Kerry Glann and accompanied by Betty Jean Willis.

Glann and Willis also directed and accompanied the finale with all the choirs. Choirs entered to "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Joy to the World," with hymns also sung in between choir performances as they exited and entered the stage area. Vincent Anderson of the Episcopal Church of Our Savior played variations on "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" on the organ for the prelude. Rev. Alan Smearsol of Emmanuel Lutheran Church offered prayers.

Mitchell said the Salem Music Study Club, which is a member of the National and Ohio Federation of Music Clubs, started 85 years ago with some ladies from the community who wanted to get together to promote music. They met in their homes at that time and over the years evolved to the point of accepting men into the group. She said the main purpose is to provide scholarships to young people for music careers. Besides the two scholarships already mentioned, they also provide three scholarships through the Salem Community Foundation named for Esther Odoran, Dorothy Vaughan and Corrine Mackall. They also host a high school music competition.

The group which meets the fourth Wednesday of the month from September through May is looking for new members interested in music. The meetings take place at the Emmanuel Lutheran Education Building.

Mitchell said this year the programs have focused on music of the 20th century, with two decades covered in each meeting.

Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net