Cedarville Sings with the Gettys

Students from Cedarville University will sing in the backup choir for the Getty Christmas Concert 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20, in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty will present their Christmas tour “Joy: An Irish Christmas” Friday night. Assistant professor of worship Susan Plemons said Cedarville is very excited to help kick off the Christmas tour this year.

This opportunity came as a surprise to Cedarville, Plemons said. The Gettys’ tour company contacted Roger O’Neil, associate professor of worship, a month ago inviting Cedarville’s choir to sing. Auditions were held for students who wanted to sing with the choir. Since the opportunity came as a surprise, the Cedarville choir team has been under more pressure than usual when practicing for an event, Plemons said.

Though stressful, Plemons said the blessings will be well worth it to the students who are committing their time.

“Here’s how God works. He surprises us, and sometimes the surprise requires an effort level higher than we expect, but then the opportunity that comes will be so much of a reward, it will not matter if you were pushed out of your comfort zone,” she said. “But it will be worth it, and we never know when God will give us these opportunities.”

Plemons said the choir team has had few, but long, rehearsals on Monday nights. However, most of the commitment to practicing the music has been outside of these scheduled rehearsals.

“The students are doing really well learning the material and keeping the work load,” she said.

Plemons said the first half of the concert has a very Irish and festival-like feel, and then the concert transitions to worship. 

Plemons said Cedarville’s choir team will be combining with a choir from the Cincinnati area, which has rehearsed separately, for the concert.

Seth Brummer, a junior transfer student and worship major from Colorado, will sing in the backup choir. He said this opportunity for students to sing with the Gettys is incredible, and so he’s tried to prepare well for it. As one of four tenors, Brummer said his voice is well-relied on in the concert. 

“Though I am decently ready, there is always something that could go wrong, and that is what makes it fun,” he said. “The main thing is that God is glorified, not us, and doing our best for him is what really matters.”

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in the Cincinnati area. Tickets can be purchased online before the event.

Alicia Wright is a freshman journalism major and a reporter for Cedars. She has a passion for French, and she loves coffee, chatting with friends and family, and learning. You can find Alicia at any mall, as shopping is her go-to activity.