RYKERT TRIO

By VIRGINIA STILL

There are many things to look forward to during the holiday season like spending time with family, celebrations, and live music. This holiday season folks may want to spend Christmas with The Rykert Trio that will be bringing their family harmonies to the Gallo Center for the Arts stage at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 16.

The Rykert Trio are local artists based out of Modesto and consists of father Joe Rykert, daughter Noel Rykert-LaRosa, and son Joseph Paul Rykert. The three are individual soloists that joined forces in 2016 to bring their contemporary, southern gospel, power anthems, and classical hymns to the masses.

“I know for a fact that this Christmas show this December is going to be a highlight on the books for us because well for one we will have a live band and that is a big first for us to have live music,” said Joseph. “So, I know this one is going down in the record books.”

The Rykert Trio has performed Christmas concerts in years past but this will be their first Christmas concert at the Gallo. They have performed other shows at the Gallo Center.

When asked what guests can expect at the Christmas Concert in December, Noel remarked, “Variety. The full first half is a combination of classical Christmas music and songs that people definitely want to hear this time of year. Lots of Christmas carols that they can sing along with and lots of variety with all over the board Christmas music. The second half will be with a live band and will be more gospel centered Christmas music.”

They have two albums “Sometimes It Takes a Mountain” in 2017 and “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” in 2018. They were inducted as new members to the Western States Gospel Music Association in 2018. The trio won the grand prize and audience favorite awards at the Valley Talent Project hosted by the Gallo Center for the Arts in 2016.

“It was very humbling and a true blessing,” stated Noel on winning the grand prize. “We had been through a lot as a family and it really brought us together and showed us what God can do just through us.”

They have performed at the Great Western Fan Festival for a few years where they were invited to the special evening program on the big stage.

“I am sure the others would say so as well, we got to sing with a lot of great southern gospel artists and we go to this annual event called the Great Western Fan Festival in Visalia, California - all the biggest southern gospel groups are there and they have invited us to sing on the evening program,” Joseph said. He said it is one of their highlights of their musical career together. “There are different stages you can perform on and one of the biggest stages is in the evening program. They have invited us three years now to be a part of that so that has been a huge highlight for us.”

The trio was brought together after Joe was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma and with divine intervention enlisted the assistance of Noel and Joseph for future concert engagements.

“I couldn’t see it,” added Joe. “I had to go through the affliction of a diagnosis like stage four lymphoma. God gave me the idea to ask the kids to come back me up for a singing gig that I had coming up and that is how the trio was born.”

Before COVID hit the group was touring throughout California, Oregon, and Washington. They have their own musical tastes and interests, which has influenced their music that has included a little bit of opera, a little country, clas-

sical music, and even a little jazz.

Noel has been singing since she was 6 years old and through the years she has been in several musicals and operas. She is a mother of three and married to Michael LaRosa.

“There are so many,” shared Noel about some of her favorite moments singing in the trio. “We have done several trips up to Oregon and Washington on tours with all three of my children - just hours in the car driving to different churches performing. Those are some sweet, sweet moments with rehearsals in the car and getting from one small church to the next not knowing how many people will be there to listen.”

Joseph is a classically trained tenor and he toured worldwide with Broadway’s “Phantom of the Opera” with Jeremy Stolle. Along with opera, Joseph has performed in several musical theater productions.

Joe is classically trained and has performed for over 30 years in churches, operas, and musical theater. He has sung for President George Bush and other dignitaries. He is father to five girls and one son and married to Tammy.

“Cancer for me - I am grateful because it allowed me to bless people,” said Joe. “I couldn’t see it before, and I missed a lot of years. I am grateful now. So, I was diagnosed almost two years ago with congestive heart failure. So that has kind of curtailed some of my activity. I am dealing with it and God gives me strength day to day. That is what I rely on. For whatever reason seven years later, I am still here.”

“Momager” and wife Tammy is a crucial part of the group behind the scenes that manages their schedule, merchandise booth of CDs and T-shirts, and other duties.

“I get a thrill out of the people that come up to me during the concert or after the concert and just express how blessed they were by Joe, Joseph and Noel and that just really warms my heart,” added Tammy. “It could be any size concert from five people to 500 - you always have someone that is blessed that day and goes home in a better spirit. It is awesome to see.”

The family trio will hit the road once again to share their God given talents with others with a few upcoming performances.

“This holiday season is probably going to be different compared to the past two years for a lot of people,” noted Noel. “We are just excited to shine some light on Christ the real true meaning of Christmas. There is hope in Jesus.”

For more information on the trio or their schedule visit www.therykerttrio. com.

Sing it loud!