Verdict is in: Carol sing is awesome tradition

If you attend once, you’ll return, a song leader says.

By PETER H. MILLIKEN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Every Christmas Eve, familiar Mahoning County Courthouse personalities contribute to this community a talent other than that which they apply to their jobs.

They bring to the annual courthouse Christmas carol sing the musical talents they’ve cultivated since their childhood or their teen years.

The joyful sound of 75 to 100 people singing traditional Christmas carols reverberates through the cavernous rotunda of the century-old courthouse.

The celebration culminates with the appearance of Santa Claus, who visits the children and grandchildren of courthouse workers.

The observance began five decades ago, when Anthony Vivo was instrumental in its founding. Vivo was the county’s clerk of courts for 39 years until his death in 1994.

Today, his son, Anthony Vivo, who has been clerk of courts since that year, carries on the tradition by serving as master of ceremonies.

“If you’ve participated in it once, you’ll be back again. It’s a very memorable occasion,” said Magistrate Timothy G. Welsh of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, who leads the singing.

“You’ll see folks all the way up to the fourth floor just leaning over the balcony and listening to the music,” Welsh added.

“It’s just a very warm, traditional way to celebrate the holiday and wish all your fellow workers a very Merry Christmas,” said Welsh, who has participated in the late morning event since 1983, when he was a bailiff and a law student.

Welsh began studying voice at the age of 17 and sang in the Youngstown State University men’s chorus from 1978-82. Today, he is a cantor and choir member at St. Charles Church in Boardman.

Welsh’s wife, Atty. Kathi McNabb Welsh, chief deputy clerk of courts, plays the flute at the rotunda event, in which she has participated since 1989.

Having played that instrument since she was 8 years old, McNabb Welsh also occasionally plays at services in St. Charles Church and at an annual courthouse memorial service for lawyers who have died within the past year.

“I enjoy music. I enjoy the interaction with the families. It’s very special for me to be in our beautiful courthouse and to play this beautiful seasonal music,” she added.

During the holiday season, Christmas wreaths adorn the rotunda, and the ground floor centerpiece is a 15-foot Christmas tree.

“Playing ‘Silent Night’ with the little kids singing and hearing their voices lift up is just, for me, on a personal level, about as good as it gets on Christmas Eve,” McNabb Welsh said.

Other instrumental musicians are Scott A. Grossen, administrator of the clerk’s office; Judge Diane S. Vettori of the county court in Sebring; and Luis M. Arroyo, family services director for the county’s domestic relations court, all playing guitars.

The keyboard player is Cindy Cleeland, organist at Martin Luther Lutheran Church, and a former deputy clerk of courts.

Grossen, who began playing the guitar at the age of 8, used the word “awesome” to describe the event, in which he has participated since 2000.

“It’s just a nice gathering for the county employees to celebrate the holidays,” Grossen said.

Having played the guitar since he was a teenager, Arroyo has participated in the Christmas Eve courthouse event for the past several years. Arroyo also plays the guitar at St. Rose of Lima Church.

Arroyo said he enjoys seeing the excitement of the children as Santa enters the rotunda and the camaraderie with fellow courthouse employees and their families.

“There’s a festive atmosphere in the courthouse, where a lot of the officeholders are having an open house,” Arroyo observed.

“The music’s beautiful. I just think it really is a nice way to bring everyone together,” Magistrate Welsh concluded.

milliken@vindy.com