Thursday, December 17, 2009
By John Benson
COLUMBIANA — Sensing a need to not only celebrate the holiday season but also to give back to the community, Columbiana native Christopher Lee Bayda debuted “Rockin’ Around the Town Square” to a sold-out audience last year. This year, the 2001 Columbiana High School graduate is upping the ante with three shows Friday through Sunday at Main Street Theater.
“Last year, we did it as a way to do it for fun, for playing a couple of songs we wanted to do,” said Bayda, who graduated with an engineering degree in 2005 from Youngstown State University. “Basically, I used to lead music at First Christian Church in Columbiana, and when I moved to Cleveland, I didn’t do that anymore but I still jammed with some friends from there.
“So we came up with the idea of putting together a community concert and use it as a way to play some of my arrangements and also a way to reach out. Last year, we were the single largest donation for the Way Station of canned food items for the month of December. So we’re doing that again this year to reach out to the community and help those that are in need.”
This year’s “Rockin’ Around the Town Square” features a large band — Bayda (guitar), Greg Sprouse (vocals), Natalie Sprouse (vocals), Nick Rupert (guitar), Dave Arthurs (guitar), Don Arthurs (bass), Dawn Arthurs (piano, keyboards), Martha Rogowsky (piano, keyboards) and Roger Lewis (percussion) — along with various musical groups (choirs and ensembles) from Crestview High School (Friday), Columbiana High School (Saturday) and Heartland Christian School (Sunday). Each night of the show a different school will participate in what Bayda said is something similar to a Trans-Siberian Orchestra show.
“Yeah, there are some similarities there,” Bayda said. “In fact, we’re doing a couple of their arrangements, like ‘Carol of the Bells,’ but beyond that it’s pretty similar in the sense that it’s rocked-up, very guitar-driven performance with a large band. It’s just a holiday event.”
Among the recognizable tunes scheduled to be performed are “Joy to the World,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman” and “Silent Night,” as well as Bayda’s special arrangement of “Canon in D.”
“It’s basically a concert rocking up the regular Christmas carols,” Bayda said. “Last year, from the time we came up with the idea until we did the show, we only had three weeks to put it together. And because it worked out really well last year, this year we decided to do it again, only we had more time to prepare. Also last year. we had a waiting list that was long enough to fill up two nights, so that’s why we made it three nights, put in some new material and extended the show. It’s not all heavy rock. There’s something there for everybody.”
Finally, does Bayda think “Rockin’ Around the Town Square” will return in 2010?
“Quite possibly,” Bayda said. “It depends on how it turns out this year.”
He quickly added, “But it’s likely, yes.”