The first annual “The Spirit of Christmas,” a community talent celebration, will be held this coming Saturday evening, December 5 starting at 7 p.m. at the Clinton County Learning Center auditorium.

Admission is free to the public, but people are asked to bring a canned food item for the “Christmas at Home” drive. Also, any and all monetary donations will be appreciated with proceeds going to the Clinton County school band program.

The event is being sponsored by the Clinton County Alumni Band.

Everyone is invited out for a great evening of music and talent performed by many local singers, church groups, students and the Alumni Band.

Randy Speck, along with Lamon Hubbs, two original members of the band, attended a similar program last year in neighboring Byrdstown, Tennessee and originated the idea for such an event to showcase local talent in the Albany/Clinton County area.

As of presstime Tuesday, about 15 groups and/or individuals were expected to perform in some way, including a few choirs and other groups. The Alumni Band was still accepting potential performers as of Tuesday, but the deadline is 4 p.m. this Thursday because they will be having a rehearsal for those who will be taking part scheduled for this Friday night, November 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Learning Center.

Speck noted that Kathy Hicks, along with Hubbs, was actually the primary coordinators of the program, but noted they wanted to get everyone involved that would like to participate.

“We felt we could take advantage of the local talent and there will be no judging, just performances and the entire event is to kick-off Christmas with an entire Christmas holiday theme,” Speck said.

He added the program was “open to all,” including choirs, quartets, trios and soloists. It won’t just be singing, any type of talent such as reading poems, scripture related to a religious Christmas theme and more.

Speck stressed that the program was also tying in with the Christmas at Home program to help collect food for the food drive by asking for a canned donation and the monetary donations would go entirely to benefit the high school band program in Clinton County.

When asked if this would become an annual event, Speck quickly said, “Yes sir,” we are doing this for the people in Clinton County who have talent and who have supported us in the past. “We hope to learn with this year’s program and build on it and make it even better in years to come,” he added.

Speck also noted that Robin Holcomb was donating his time as sound engineer for this Saturday’s event.

The Clinton County Alumni Band is comprised of the following members: Randy Speck, Lamon Hubbs, Mike Rogers, Tonya Marcum, Cyndi Crady, Jordon Fillingham (Band Director at Cumberland County), Lora Grant, Jordan Grant, Mark Thrasher, Chris Thrasher (who all make up percussion) and Johnna Beth Stearns, Shawn Marcum, Jordon Stockton, Matthew Perdue, Isaiah Shelley, Kimberly Ferrill, Donna Beth Cross, Gary Little, Christan Smith, Kaylee Burchett, Doug Sell, Pat Beard, Nancy Hancock, Brooke Wright and Brooke Little.