Jesus Is Born Today ~ Cherokee National Youth Choir ~ World ~ CD ~ Used VG

Editorial Reviews

The Cherokee National Youth Choir Ring in the Holidays with a Beautiful New CD (Nashville) In the spirit of the true meaning of the Cherokee Christmas holiday, the Cherokee National Youth Choir delivers a new CD of traditional and original songs of worship and celebration, entitled Jesus is Born Today (which is a translation from Cherokee, of the word Christmas). The album features powerful performances; young voices lifted in song, in the beauty of the Cherokee language. The project soars with full choir productions and in selections by smaller groupings of the choir members, accompanied by Musical Producer, Jeffrey Gray Parker, who adds shimmering musical flourishes on keyboards and guitar. They are also joined in spoken word by well respected Cherokee elder, Reverend Leroy Backwater. Jesus is Born Today was recorded at the historic Park Hill Presbyterian Church in Park Hill, Oklahoma, and at Cimarron Sound Lab studio, in Tahlequah. Following in the historical traditions of the 170-plus year old congregation of the Park Hill Church, the Cherokee National Youth Choir recorded in the same sanctuary that their ancestors had worked hard to build, and they continue in their mission to preserve the Cherokee language, history, songs and culture for generations to come. The CD opens with wonderful interpretations of the holiday chestnuts, "Silent Night" and "Angels We Have Heard on High," before moving into the beautiful title track, "Jesus is Born Today," which was penned by Parker and Janice Ballou. Other traditional highlights include, "O Holy Night," "Away in a Manger" and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." The CD closes with a spoken word narrative by Reverend Backwater, of "Grandfather's Christmas Story," complete with the warming sounds of a crackling fire. The Cherokee National Youth Choir ring in this holiday season with many blessings, including their recent Native American Music Awards nominations for "Album of the Year" and best "Gospel/Christian Recording," for their last album, "Building One Fire" (the group won the top honor for best "Gospel/Christian Recording" at the NAMMYS, on November 15). The Cherokee National Youth Choir continues with their musical vision, while they celebrate Cherokee Christmases past, present and future on Jesus is Born Today, a CD that will most certainly become a holiday favorite.

About the Artist

The Cherokee National Youth Choir is composed of thirty children from Cherokee communities like Kenwood, Oaks, Leach, Briggs and Tahlequah. The choir members are between the sixth and ninth grades. Their first album, "Voices of the CreatorÂ's Children," was the inspiration of Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, who had always believed in the potential of the group.

About three years ago, Chief Smith shared his dream of having an official youth choir for the tribe with Jamie Geneva, a Cherokee tribal member and a former member of the River City Players, a song and dance troupe made of Northeastern State University students.

Geneva, who grew up in Stilwell, Okla., taught school for 12 years and feels all of her teaching and theater experience is now coming together as she helps teach the choir members. She has experience in teaching the Cherokee language through her time spent as a bilingual teacher trainee working with renowned Cherokee linguist Agnes Cowen.

"It was her mission in life to keep the language going," Geneva said. "It's almost like things in my life came full circle. I'm back to teaching and working with our language."

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