A Note From Our President, BJ Banks

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From my heart to yours

UPDATED: July 28, 2026

Dear Friends of the Salina Chorale,

We are excited about preparing for our upcoming 2026 “Carols of Christmas” concert, to be performed on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2026, at 4 p.m. at Sacred Heart Cathedral in downtown Salina, Kansas, as a wonderful ending to Thanksgiving Weekend and the start of the holiday season.

Our Salina Chorale holiday concert will again be under the direction of Keri Boley, with our wonderful Collaborative Pianist Dr. Gustavo do Cormo. 

We have an exciting choral program planned, opening with “Gloria” by John Rutter, presented with organ, brass choir, and percussion. John Rutter's "Gloria" is a vibrant, three-movement choral setting of the traditional Latin mass text commissioned in 1974 by Mel Olson for his choir in Omaha, Nebraska. Scored dynamically for a mixed choir alongside brass, percussion, and organ, it mirrors a fast-slow-fast symphonic structure.

After a brief intermission, we will present a nice variety of traditional holiday pieces. These include: “Stars” by Eriks Esenvalds, with crystal glasses; “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” arranged by Pinkzeba; “O Little Town of Bethlehem” arranged by Julie Ann Ballard; “Silent Night” arranged by Mac Huff; “ Angels We Have Heard On High” arranged by Rene Clausen; “The First Noel” arranged by Dan Forrest; “We Three Kings” arranged by David Schmidt, with piano, trumpet, saxophone, and percussion; “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” arranged by Dan Forrest, with piano, organ, brass, and percussion; “Joy to the World” arranged by Mack Wilberg, with piano and organ. 

We welcome all new, former and returning singers to join us this fall. If you’ve sung with us before, please consider coming back. Our fall rehearsals will begin August 17, 2026, every Monday evening except Labor Day, with two extra rehearsals before concert day. If you enjoy singing in a choir, consider singing with us. Visit the ”Sing With Us” page on our website for the rehearsals specifics and the performance dress details.  

We appreciate our wonderful sponsors and faithful audience members and hope that you, and those just discovering the Salina Chorale, will be able to attend 2026 “Carols of Christmas” on Sunday, Nov. 29. Details of this concert and more performances are on the "Events" page.

We love singing together, and if you are not singing with the Chorale this fall, we hope to see you in the audience. We would love to share the music we have prepared with you and your loved ones and friends, and brighten the start of your holiday season.

Sincerely,

B. J. Banks, President - Salina Chorale