“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear,” at least that’s what Buddy the elf says. A ladies choir is doing just that but they’re adding a little more than cheer, they sing for a great cause.
The Boise Choristers have been around for decades now and although they started out as a group just wanting to sing around the Treasure Valley, they found a way to impact people in more ways than just a concert ever could.
"The Boise choristers is an all women choir, we've been around for 75 years," Jeanine Rueb, the choir spokesperson said.
"I really enjoy the ladies that I sing with we have a good comradery and lots of fun together," Holley Rademacher, a soprano whose been in the choir for almost 30 years said.
The whole point back in the 1940’s when the choir started was to go around performing in the community, but years ago when the group decided to help raise funds for an organ at Boise State University, their purpose evolved.
"After that we just started to do what we call sing outs and we would go to places and they would pay us to sing and we would put that money into a scholarship fund," Rueb said.
Each year they choose five musically talented students for the scholarship, four high school seniors from the West Ada and Boise school districts, and one Boise State student.
"We want to encourage them to continue with their educations and then hopefully give back to their communities," said Rueb.
David Le was one of last year’s recipients.
"What they are doing really helps out with students in the community." Le said.
He’s now a freshman at Boise State studying music.
"I'm very grateful,” Le said. “I don't have a lot of money to go to school and so every scholarship counts."
"We do it because we love music and we try to portray that in our performances," Rademacher said.
Their Christmas concert coming up is on Monday December 14 at 7pm at the Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise. Tickets are free but they encourage donations so that they can keep the scholarship program going.
Each year they give around $5,000 in scholarships.
