If you go to see the Bel Canto Singers ...
Sample performance
■ When: 2 p.m. Saturday
■ Where: Monroe Arts Center,
1315 11th St.
■ Also: Monroe Swiss Singers;
end of MAC Holiday Silent Auction
Full annual Christmas concert
■ When: 7 p.m. Sunday
■ Where: St. Victor Church,
1760 14th St., Monroe
Directed by Allen Redford
MONROE - Although Tracy Bristow performs frequently in choirs during the holiday season, performing with the Bel Canto Singers the weekend before Christmas at the St. Victor Catholic Church surpasses them all.
"When you pull up to St. Victor's and there's a little bit of snow falling and the church is decorated beautifully and there's beautiful singing," Bristow said, "it's absolutely my favorite."
The Bel Canto Singers were founded in 1979 and started with Hans and Bobbie Bernet and their friends singing at the piano in their living room. Now, the group has 42 members.
Bristow has been a Bel Canto Singer for almost 30 years, and before that, she grew up performing in choirs.
"It would make me sad if I didn't have this group," Bristow said. "Not every town has this. I feel blessed to sing with these people under Allen's direction."
Allen Redford, a recently retired music director at Highland Community College, has been directing the Bel Canto Singers for about 10 years. The choir has six rehearsals before their big performance at St. Victor Church.
"Making music with friends is the best part," Redford said. "There's so many talented musicians and singers in Monroe, and we've really developed a rapport over the years."
Megan Wiemann, a former music teacher at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, joined the choral group about five years ago after being roped in by Bristow. Although she now lives in Fitchburg and teaches in Oregon, she said the Bel Canto Singers is the only Monroe activity she didn't want to give up.
Wiemann is originally from the Fond du Lac area and sang in choir in college. She likes getting to sing with the multi-age group and enjoys Redford's emphasis on the choir's connection as a whole. Singing with the Bel Canto Singers also helps put Wiemann in the Christmas spirit.
"Getting to sing just brings so much love and hope and joy," she said. "All those things you feel during the holidays. It just brings warm fuzzies to your tummy."
Bobbie Bernet said she's had several people tell her the Bel Canto Singers' performance at St. Victor is when Christmas begins for them.
"It's usually about the time when a lot of people are done with shopping and they can just relax," Bernet said.
The Bel Canto Singers will perform a couple pieces at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Monroe Arts Center and will perform their entire set at 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Victor Church.
"When you pull up to St. Victor's and there's a little bit of snow falling and the church is decorated beautifully and there's beautiful singing," Bristow said, "it's absolutely my favorite."
The Bel Canto Singers were founded in 1979 and started with Hans and Bobbie Bernet and their friends singing at the piano in their living room. Now, the group has 42 members.
Bristow has been a Bel Canto Singer for almost 30 years, and before that, she grew up performing in choirs.
"It would make me sad if I didn't have this group," Bristow said. "Not every town has this. I feel blessed to sing with these people under Allen's direction."
Allen Redford, a recently retired music director at Highland Community College, has been directing the Bel Canto Singers for about 10 years. The choir has six rehearsals before their big performance at St. Victor Church.
"Making music with friends is the best part," Redford said. "There's so many talented musicians and singers in Monroe, and we've really developed a rapport over the years."
Megan Wiemann, a former music teacher at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, joined the choral group about five years ago after being roped in by Bristow. Although she now lives in Fitchburg and teaches in Oregon, she said the Bel Canto Singers is the only Monroe activity she didn't want to give up.
Wiemann is originally from the Fond du Lac area and sang in choir in college. She likes getting to sing with the multi-age group and enjoys Redford's emphasis on the choir's connection as a whole. Singing with the Bel Canto Singers also helps put Wiemann in the Christmas spirit.
"Getting to sing just brings so much love and hope and joy," she said. "All those things you feel during the holidays. It just brings warm fuzzies to your tummy."
Bobbie Bernet said she's had several people tell her the Bel Canto Singers' performance at St. Victor is when Christmas begins for them.
"It's usually about the time when a lot of people are done with shopping and they can just relax," Bernet said.
The Bel Canto Singers will perform a couple pieces at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Monroe Arts Center and will perform their entire set at 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Victor Church.