Aiken alive with celebration of Christmas sights and sounds

For residents who think they can find worthwhile cultural events only in large cities, they must have missed the Aiken Community Playhouse's "It's a Wonderful Life" and Saturday evening's Christmas pops with the Augusta Symphony. The musical, "It's a Wonderful Life," highlighted some amazing talent from this community with intricate choreography and strong vocals. Shawn Maratea, playing George Bailey, was especially delightful. What a terrific voice! The cast of 60-plus actors, too, displayed impeccable timing as well as showing such passion for their parts.

After Saturday's Christmas pops concert featuring the new conductor, "Z," the Etherredge Center was abuzz with positive comments as to how entertaining the evening had been. The two professional opera singers, a tenor and a soprano, plus a full children's chorus and the Home Again adult chorus thrilled the audience with a varied repertoire of both secular and sacred songs. Their last musical selection, a rousing gospel number, "Children, Go Where I Send Thee," brought the house down. For us, the concert was the most impressive and enjoyable of the previous nine years' performances.

Thank you, ACP performers. Thank you, Aiken Symphony Guild for bringing the Augusta Symphony to Aiken once again.

Pat Kirk

Aiken