The carolers sing old love songs at one of the Elmwood Park Home Tours. Left to right, Dave Sennema, Dana Fore, Rosanne McDowell, Marc Rattray. Photo by Bob Carroll.
Long a Midlands holiday tradition, the Carillon Carolers have been bringing smiles to the faces of their listeners and creating musical Christmas memories since 1988. Performing four singers at a time as an SATB quartet, soprano Dana Fore, manager/alto Rosanne McDowell, tenor Chan Shealy, bass Hal McIntosh, and other members of the group dress in festive Victorian costumes to add to the fun.
Hal McIntosh, Rosanne McDowell, Santa, Dana Fore, and Dave Sennema are pictured at the Old Mill in Lexington. Photo by Clark Berry
Once again this year, the carolers will perform for the annual Governor’s Mansion Christmas Open House, set for December 2. Immediately following their performance at the Governor’s Mansion, the quartet will head for the rooftop of Richland Mall to appear at Forest Acres Sweet Seasons, where they will add their special brand of holiday cheer to the lighting of the area’s community Christmas tree. Both events are free and open to the public.
The carolers at the annual Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade are: left to right, Rosanne McDowell, Dana Fore, Chan Shealy, Hal McIntosh. Photo by Beverly Allen.
You’ll find the Carillon Carolers all around town during the holiday season, strolling and caroling at public venues or performing onstage, table to table, on TV and radio, and at the doors of homes, businesses, and churches. In seamless four-part harmony and classic a cappella style, they entertain young and old alike with such Christmas favorites as “Joy to the World” and “Winter Wonderland” from a repertoire of about 50 carols, some of these their own arrangements. When the Christmas season is past, the group serenades with memorable old love songs, also a cappella, and in period costume.
Chan Shealy and Dana Fore are dressed in holiday finery while they entertain at Governor’s Mansion. Photo by Bob Carroll.
For more information on the Carillon Carolers’ performance schedule, contact Rosanne McDowell in Columbia at (803) 765-1764. Visit forestacresrma.com/contact for more about Forest Acres Sweet Seasons. For further details on the Governor’s Mansion Christmas Open House, call (803) 737-1710.
