Anita Purcell got to reconnect with a special group of people over her Thanksgiving holidays.
“I joined Creative Impressions in the eighth grade, and I graduated from Davidson in 2005,” said Purcell, who now lives in New York, but joined with current members of the vocal group and some other alumni to record segments of its 25th anniversary concert “Behold the Star,” which will be streamed Dec. 19.
The vocal group for teenagers played an integral role in Purcell’s life during those years of her life. Many of the friendships she created have lasted over the years.
“I wish I could find something like this for adults,” she said.
Nicki Johnson, who graduated from high school and the program in 2000, was another alumna participating in the recording.
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Over the years, she’s attended many of the performances and watched from afar. She said she’s glad to be making it back to the stage even in a recorded manner.
“I’m seeing a lot of familiar faces,” she said.
“Behold the Star” is the annual Christmas performance by the group directed by Trey McLaughlin, who grew up in the program.
The program has some familiar songs, but McLaughlin, who is a music arranger has put his own spin on them.
“I’m super excited” about the concert, he said.
He likes that he’s bringing back some of the members of the group like Purcell who haven’t been able to perform.
“Behold the Star is a high-energy, multifaceted Christmas production that beautifully brings in the Christmas season for the Great Augusta area. Traditionally held during the third week in December, it has been held as a highly anticipated fine arts show in the community. Behold the Star infuses conventional Christmas ballads with contemporary arrangements for an artistic experience that brings in the joy of Christmas for its audience. It also serves as a fundraiser for the organization, supporting the impactful programming of Creative Impressions,” according to the Creative Impressions’ website, creative-impressions.org.
“Behold the Star” will be streamed on Facebook, YouTube and the organization’s website at 6 p.m. Dec. 19, highlighting “music from the group’s repertoire of gospel, traditional, and Christmas songs with special arrangements from the group’s artistic director,” according to a news release. Register for the viewing at the organization’s website.
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Because the organization can’t sell tickets for a live performance, its asking for $25 donations ($1 for each of its years).
The funds go to “ensure that current and future students of the organization can obtain scholarship opportunities and continue to broaden their horizons through the organization’s annual College and Cultural Expansion Tour,” the news release said.
For more information on Creative Impressions and “Behold the Star,” visit https://www.creative-impressions.org/ and follow Creative Impressions on Instagram and Facebook.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
