On Sunday, April 24 at 7 p.m., the Southside Virginia College (SVCC) Community Chorus will present a concert of music about our life and times as Americans. The concert will be presented at South Hill Presbyterian Church (free admission).

Carol J. Henderson, director, and Sally Tharrington, accompanist, have led this company of singers through several months of preparation for what promises to be grand evening. Families, friends and neighbors will hear the familiar tunes from their American roots.

“Our country is based on a dream of freedom and liberty. This silent dream is for the dawn of a new day and when we awaken, we hope to find the darkness of silence gone and alive in our music,” stated an SVCC release. “The chorus will sing of the hope that all persons will be accepted as one people. The ‘Distant Land’ (by John Rutter) cries that the ‘time will come when war must cease … and all the world can join the song of freedom.’”

The SVCC Chorus will revive American fun-time with pop favorites and rock ‘n roll favorites from the 50s and 60s, such as: “Monday, Monday,” “When I’m Sixty-Four” by the Beatles and many more.

“The finale of the concert will feature patriotic music that will recognize all five branches of the Armed Forces; our flag, the “Stars and Stripes” of the U.S.A.; and a visual presentation of our “Unsung Heroes”, teachers, law enforcement and volunteer workers who support our American ideals. Featuring Michael Chafatelli from Charlottesville on the trumpet, we will honor our veterans with a color guard and “Taps;” closing the entire concert with “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” “Ashokan Farewell” from the PBS serie, The Civil War by Ken Burns, and “God Bless America” by Irving Berlinj,” the release stated.