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May 24, 2007

City Spotlight: Choirs compete to stop abuse

Jonathan L’Ecuyer

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house by the end of the Exchange Club of Haverhill’s second annual Sing Out Against Child Abuse fundraiser at Sacred Hearts Church in Bradford.

The choir competition is a lighthearted experience for church choirs, which rarely perform for pews full of adoring fans.

Ten choirs from Lynn to Newburyport to Pelham, N.H. participated. Winners received $500 and second-place finishers won $250.

Choirs were divided into three categories — choirs with more than 12 members, less than 12 members and children’s choirs. The competition raised over $2,000 for child abuse programs and to help construct a proposed child advocacy center for Essex County. The April event beat last year’s fundraising total by over $500.

Saint George Greek Orthodox Church Choir was the victor in the more-than-12 category. Crossroads Baptist Church of Pelham, N.H. came in second. But when it came time for them to claim their checks, both choirs told Barry to keep the money and put it toward the fundraiser instead.

Winning the less-than-12 category was the Ward Hill Church of Christ from Bradford. Second place went to Valley Voices of Haverhill. All children were winners because only two children’s choirs entered: The South United Church of Christ of Andover took top honors, and Ward Hill Church of Christ was named runner-up.

Event chairman Rick Barry said the children’s choirs brought a whole new aspect and feeling to the competition, which had over 400 in attendance.

“My favorite part of the entire day was the very end when (both) children’s choirs sang ‘Let There Be Peace on Earth and Let it Begin with Me,’” Barry said. “To hear their sweet little voices sing that message was just great. It brought tears to people’s eyes.”



See slideshow for photos of the event.

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