Video courtesy Pegasus TV-12
Judith Henry’s 20 Christmas songs charmed the small but receptive audience Sunday at the Perry Performing Arts Center.
Many Perry residents will remember Henry as Judy Ohrt, for several years the organist and choir director for the Perry First United Methodist Church. Henry holds a Master of Music from Drake University and is an accomplished keyboardist, vocalist and teacher.
She played the piano on all the songs and sang on several others. The audience of more than 50 often punctuated the 75-minute performance with applause. For the selections “Star of Bethlehem” and “Born in Bethlehem,” she was joined by Rev. Jim Pemble and Muriel Pemble. Rev. Pemble was the pastor of the Perry First United Methodist Church from 1995 to 2000.
Mark Golightly was the master of ceremonies for the Christmastime event.
Henry is a composer and has recorded 4 CDs. Her background includes directing school choirs, church vocal and bell choirs and, as music director at several churches, playing the piano and organ.
She is also a former member of the Perry Fine Arts committee and performed a number of programs for the concert series on an annual basis. She has also performed for farmers’ markets and at other venues.
Her Christmas program will include musical arrangements by George Weston, David Lanz, Mannheim Steamroller, Mark Hayes and other popular arrangers of today.
