Our Shows

Around the Year with the Celebration Singers

FREE ADMISSION! Every season has a song! Join the Celebration Singers on a musical journey through the months of the year.

7:00 PM • Paramount Theatre, Downtown Abilene


Fall 2023

Merry Christmas Everyone!


Spring 2023

Oldies But Goodies


Fall 2022

The Beauty of Christmas


Spring 2022

The Wonderful World of Animals


Fall 2019

Christmas in America


Spring 2019

Whole Lotta Country


Fall 2018

Christmas Everywhere


Spring 2018

Movin' On


Fall 2017

Christmas Highlights from 20 Years


Spring 2017

Spring Highlights from 20 Years


Fall 2016

Christmas Through the Ages


Spring 2016

All About Feelings


Fall 2015

It's All About Christmas


Spring 2015

Music in America


Fall 2014

Christmas Time is Here


Spring 2014

The Magic of Movie Music


Fall 2013

In God We Still Trust


Spring 2013

50 Years of Hits


Fall 2012

Sing of Christmas


Spring 2012

All Kindsa Country


Fall 2011

Thank You!


Spring 2011

From Broadway to Hollywood


Fall 2010

Christmas is Love

About the Celebration Singers

The Celebration Singers is a community show choir and non-profit charitable organization established in 1997 in Abilene, Texas. The Singers' goal is to present quality music to Abilene and the Big Country community at no admission cost. Since 1997, we perform free shows for the public to enjoy. This is only made possible through generous donations from the community, grants, sponsors and underwriters, member contributions, and the hundreds of volunteer hours our members give each year.

Members of the Celebration Singers come from all over Abilene & the Big Country, are all-ages, and cover a variety of professions. Our performances feature a variety of music and include two annual concerts in Abilene’s historic Paramount Theater as well as special programs at other venues throughout the area. Our shows also feature smaller ensembles that add to the variety and allow more of our members to shine.

If you love music as much as we do, you won't want to miss the Celebration Singers!

Join the Celebration Singers

It's time to sing! Rehearsals for the Spring semester will begin Tuesday, January 16th at 7:00 pm at McMurry's Fine Arts building choir room. Contact us for questions or more information!

Donate to the Celebration Singers

There are no paid positions in our organization, so every dollar raised goes to enriching our shows: from costumes, to music rights, to renting the venue. We hope you will consider supporting us, and our mission to spread the arts, with a donation. Thank you!

Current members: Pay your dues online!

Our Mission

  • Educating organizational members and the community at large in the performance and appreciation for musical art in a variety of forms and presentations of vocal and instrumental music.
  • Providing the community and public at large with the opportunity to attend public performances of vocal and instrumental performances of well-known and obscure American and foreign vocal and instrumental music.

Our Members

Members of the Celebration Singers come from all over Abilene & the Big Country, are all-ages, and cover a variety of professions. Some of us have been singing our whole lives, while others have studied and trained in music theory. We join together out of our love for music, and we gain the benefits of friendship in the process. In many ways, the Celebration Singers is one big 30+ member family!

Becoming a Member

New members are invited to join the organization at the beginning of either the fall or the spring season. Singers should be able to read music, or at least have a "good ear," are quick learners, or have been successful choir members in past ensemble experiences. Rehearsals are held every Tuesday evening during the season, and a final dress rehearsal is held on the evening before the show. Singers are encouraged to attend all rehearsals and performances and be willing to volunteer with the show's production (sorting music, sewing costumes, creating props, etc.) if able. Dues and costume fees are kept to a minimum. If you are interested in becoming a member or would like more information, please contact us!

Our Leadership

Betty Ann Blackburn

Our Director
Betty Ann Blackburn is not new to the role of the consummate professional performer. She toured with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians for many years. Betty Ann was selected to be the first artist to introduce a new and innovative instrument called the "Cordovox" which is a combination of an accordion and synthesizer. As the first to introduce this unique instrument, she had to develop techniques in which to showcase it and blend the reeds of the accordion with the electronics of the synthesizer. Because of this unique sound and talent, she has been selected to accompany many recording artists such as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians and as "Orchestra of Two" with Julius Ehrenworth (master cellist). Ms. Blackburn has appeared on national television with: The Bell Television Hour, David Frost, Johnny Carson, Fred Waring and The Pennsylvanians, Captain Kangaroo plus numerous "Talk Shows" on national and local television programs.

Ms. Betty Ann Blackburn has performed, in concert, throughout 49 of the 50 states, as well as in Europe, and in college and community concerts with rave revues. Ms. Blackburn has performed with the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Shinik Hahm and has also been accompanist to the Abilene Opera Association's productions and accompanied other operas with the Abilene Collegiate Opera. She has also accompanied international opera star, the late Caesar Antonio Suarez on many occasions.

Here in Abilene, Ms. Blackburn has served many years as the accompanist and choir director for Dyess Air Force Base and also with the Hardin-Simmons University vocal department as a staff accompanist.

Lora Lynn Christensen

Our Accompanist
Lora Lynn Christensen is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music and owner of an independent piano studio for over 30 years in Abilene. She is also an adjunct faculty of McMurry University since 2011. She is the Past State President of Texas Federation of Music Clubs (serving on the board of Opera in the Ozarks) and is a member of the Abilene Music Teachers Association (Texas Music Teachers Association and Music Teachers National Association) and the Harmony Club (TFMC). She is also a founding member of Abilene Opera Association.

Lora Lynn currently serves on the boards of Harmony Family Services, Young Audiences, and the Celebration Singers. She is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Abilene, is an SAI patroness, and is the pianist at St. James United Methodist Church.

As a non-profit oganization, Celebration Singers, Inc. is overseen by a board of directors.

Officers

  • President: Nicole Wiedemann
  • Vice President: vacant
  • Past President: Jamie Breed
  • Secretary: Jill D'Entremont
  • Treasurer: Becky Kirkpatrick

Board Members

  • Jan Berny
  • Lora Lynn Christensen
  • Dolores Compere
  • John Compere
  • Twila Nowell
  • Robin Roberts
  • David Swearingen
  • Karen Swearingen
  • Larry Todsen
  • Barry Triche
  • Jean Triche

Other Roles

  • Director: Betty Ann Blackburn
  • Historian/Publicity Assistant: John Compere
  • Production Assistant: David Swearingen
  • Producer: Nicole Wiedemann
  • Art Director: Jill D'Entremont
  • Music Librarian: Jean Triche

Ensembles

The Celebration Ladies

The Celebration Ladies began their journey as ambassadors for the Celebration Singers with Dr. J.G. Martin soon after the choir was organized in 1997. The group has performed for many organizations such as the Kiwanis Club, the Women's Club, retirement centers, church groups, and many others in and around the community. The group continues to honor Billie Martin, the wife of Dr. J.G. Martin, who was the Ladies' group number one supporter.

Led by Robin Roberts, The Celebration Ladies' harmonies are second to none, and their lovely voices can fill any room with cheer. And as Irving Berlin's famous song says, "There were never such devoted sisters!"

The Celebration Men

The men of the Celebration Singers get their chance to shine each show with a song or two of their own. Tenor, bass, and baritone parts are no match for these folks, and they don't seem to mind having a little fun in the process!

Betty Ann Blackburn accompanies the men's number on keyboard - unless, of course, they sing a capella!

The Mixed-Up Group

The Celebration Singers' founder, Dr. J.G. Martin, selected several people to join the "Celebration A Capella" group with Dave Small as the coordinator. Betty Ann Blackburn transformed the group into an entertaining comedy group called The Mixed-Up Group, or as we like to say, The MUG. It's called the Mixed-Up Group due to its makup of mixed voices of men and women - and MUG has a nice ring to it, like the ringing a boxer has in his ears when he's been hit too hard.

This mixed-voices group knows how to have fun with every song they sing. Four-part harmonies are no problem for this group. You can be the judge at how mixed-up they really are!


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