When Melony Hamilton was asked to put together a Christmas program for her LDS Church ward, she did what any resourceful, musically inclined, well-connected person-with-no-budget-to-spend would do — she called on her friends for help.
That was in 1992. The group of friends sang for the program and had so much fun that they've been singing together ever since. Other people began asking them to perform, so they put together a CD of Christmas favorites in 1995 and have followed it up with a second album this year.
It's just so refreshing, so invigorating to sit down with friends that share similar interests and abilities, Hamilton said.
"It seems like once you get out of college, you don't have as many opportunities to do this," added her husband Blake, who directs the a cappella group, which includes surgeons and accountants and businessmen and teachers.
They have 45 children among them. They live all the way from Kaysville to Orem. Life can get hectic at times. But their love of the music and of the season keeps them together.
The commitment of the group is incredible, says Bob Murri. Beginning in October, they hold weekly rehearsals. And when the season hits they sing for a lot of company parties, church groups, nursing homes, hospitals, private gatherings and more.
"It's a wonderful season," said Kim Steadman, another of the singers, "full of so much emotion."
And, adds Marty Newey, "it just isn't Christmas without the music." It's pretty rewarding, he said, to give a concert and have someone come up afterward and say, "Now I've got the Christmas spirit."
The group has sung at Jazz games, they've sung backup for Pete Seeger and performed at other times of the year. But they tend to focus on Christmas.
"We keep finding new music we want to try," said Blake.
Other members of the group include Janet Cramer, Anne Brewster, Francine Thompson, Phil Peterson, Kris Hoffman, Alma Faerber, Rebecca Howland and Karen Nash.
There have been a few changes over the years; the number fluctuating between 12 and 14. The Hamiltons even moved away for a year. But they are back, and the Hamilton Singers are still singing their way through the holidays.
"We do enjoy it; we do have a lot of fun," said Murri. And, said Melony, "we feel like we are leaving a legacy for our kids. These are the songs we all love."
Family, friends, music. It's what the season is all about. And it's out there in rich abundance.
E-mail: carma@desnews.com