Coming almost full circle from Springfield, down to Texas and recently back to the Ozarks, Jess Wade, accomplished choral director at Texas A&M University, picked up the baton to conduct his first concert with the Ozarks Chorale on Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Eureka Springs Auditorium.

“I am absolutely honored and delighted to be working with this group of talented people in the Chorale,” Wade said before the holiday concert. “It’s wonderful to be back in this area, where we used to vacation.”

The first concert in the post-pandemic era brought “The Sounds of the Season” to the ears of the Chorale’s patrons and followers. “Carol of the Bells,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” are a few of the lighter tunes presented, joining the more serious seasonal pieces such “Silent Night,” “O Harken Ye” and others.

The Chorale was very well rehearsed and spot on as they presented over an hour-and-a-half of Christmas and Holiday music. Well done, Ozarks Chorale.