Musical extravaganza marks 40 years on Thursday

Dec. 18—Eddie Yadon recalls the challenge he faced putting together a church musical decades ago.

"This started out when we built the second phase of our building in 1984," Yadon said. "The bishop wanted to show off the building, so he asked me to put together this program and invite people to come. I was still in college at Northeastern. I threw this program together and I mailed everybody and their dog in the community to come out and do musical numbers. It went off so well that 40 years later, we're still doing it."

Muskogee's Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will present its 40th annual free music extravaganza 7 p.m. Thursday at the church.

The concert has been known as many things over the years, including "A Night of Christmas Music," and "the thing at Eddie's church," according to past Phoenix stories.

Several acts made numerous return engagements over the years.

"All of the brass," Yadon said. "They've come almost every year since the beginning. They play the 'Hallelujah' chorus at the end."

The brass ensemble performs the Handel piece at various Muskogee churches the week before Christmas.

Bagpipers and drummers from the City of Tulsa Pipes and Drums, also come every year.

Group member Rick Ewing said the concert is the group's favorite gig they do.

"This is a bit of Americana you don't often find anymore," he said. "If you go to this and the feeling of warmth that you get from being here is really amazing. You see everything from youth playing for the very first time to professional musicians who leave you with a slack jaw because they're so good. and the people who are there make us feel so loved."

The bagpipers and drummers join with brass and organ for the finale, "Highland Cathedral."

"And it raises the roof," Yadon said.

There also will be several vocalists, ensembles and choirs, he said.

They include the Okipella choir and the bell choir from Presbyterian Church of Muskogee. Sisters Erin and Meaghan McCawley will sing a duet and "Leigh Ann Matthews often sings 'Mary, Did You Know," Yadon said.

The extravaganza has become a tradition, Yadon said.

"Rick Ewing will call sometime in the fall and ask 'OK, when's your deal,'" Yadon said. "Everyone's putting their calendars together."