By Bart Moss / For the FCT

The Northwest-Shoals Community College Chorale and Jazz Band put on a dazzling show at First Baptist Church in Russellville Sunday afternoon. It was the group’s sixth annual Christmas Celebration show.

Under the direction of longtime music teacher Jeff McAlister, the Chorale belted out tunes like “Joy to the World,” “Pat-a-pan,” “Go Where I Send Thee,” “The Snow Carol,” “Ding! Dong! Merrily On High” and “Angels From The Realms Of Glory.”

“This is the culmination of a semester’s worth of work,” said McAlister. “Our students work really hard to put on a good show, and I am really proud of them. Christmas music is the best literature out there, and it is exciting to put on this show.”

The Chorale and Jazz Band rehearse two days a week for about an hour and a half, McAlister said.

McAlister also directed the Jazz Band in place of the ailing George Crummie. The band played “Big Noise from the North Pole,” “Autumn Leaves,” “Do Nothin’ Til You Hear from Me,” “St. Louis Blues,” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”

Lauren Allen (Haleyville) and Cody Wakefield (Lynn), accompanied by the Jazz Band, sang the classic “Baby It’s Cold Outside.”

Franklin County was well-represented in both the Chorale and Jazz Band. In the Chorale, Lane Boyd, Bekkah Church, Zeke Lowrey and Lucas Shepard (Russellville) and Hannah Swinney (Spruce Pine) performed. In the Jazz Band, Patrick Crummie, Zack Lowrey and Salvador Blanco-Perello (Russellville) and Allison Harvey, Dillion Jackson and Matt Wilson (Phil Campbell) performed.