A glorious series of musical celebration is ahead for the Sunshine Coast. Count them – seven choirs and many other musicians perform from now until Christmas.
It starts this Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. at St. John’s United Church in Davis Bay with A Choral Christmas Offering from A Cappella Strait (20-member soprano, alto, tenor, bass group) and Choralations Children’s Choir. Hear the music again on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. at St. Bart’s Church in Gibsons. They will be singing a varied program of old and new Christmas music. The program ends with traditional carols sung by all. Tickets are adults $15, students and seniors $12 and children under 12 free. Get them at Sechelt Visitor Centre, Laedeli in Sunnycrest Mall or at the door.
On Sunday, Dec. 4 swing with Yuletide by the Seaside, presented by the Sunshine Coast Jazz and Entertainment Society. It’s at St. Bart’s Church in Gibsons at 2 p.m. Jacquie Allan is on vocals with Joe Stanton on vocals and guitar. The duo of Anna Lumiere and Graham Ord will be playing keyboard and sax/flute with Brent Gubbles on bass and the Elphinstone Senior Secondary Jazz Band. Tickets are $20 in advance from Strait Music, MELOmania, WOW Gallery and share-there.com, or $25 at the door.
Music Makers Winter Celebration takes place on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. at St. John’s United Church, Davis Bay. Look for the Guitar Gang, Reg and Lynne, and the Music Makers Adult Choir. Admission is by donation.
The most loved piece of choral music, Handel’s Messiah (Part 1: Christmas) along with Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols will be performed at St. John’s United Church in Davis Bay on two Fridays, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. It is directed by Joy McLeod with David Poon on piano, harpsichord and organ. There will be a string quartet accompaniment for Messiah, two trumpets for the Hallelujah Chorus and also carol singing. Tickets are $20 at Sechelt Visitor Centre, Laedeli Gifts in Gibsons, by phone at 604-883-9248 or from choir members.
The Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden in Sechelt is the scene on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 1:30 p.m. (reception at 1 p.m.) for A Special Time of Year from the Pender Harbour Choir under the direction of Kenneth Norman Johnson and accompanied by David Poon. Choir sings again on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 1:30 p.m. (reception at 1 p.m.) at the Pender Harbour School of Music in Madeira Park. Tickets are $20 from choir members, Sechelt Visitor Centre and EarthFair in Madeira Park.
The Arbutus Sounds Chorus performs for residents and their families at Christenson Village in Gibsons at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10. They sing again that day at 3:30 p.m. at the Gibsons Public Library. These women really get around – watch them again at the Holiday Hustle in the Seaside Centre, Sechelt, at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11, and again carolling at Trail Bay Mall at noon on Saturday, Dec. 17. On Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m. you will find them at Winter Lights at the Botanical Garden. Donations received at the door.
And that’s not all. On Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. the Suncoast Phoenix Community Choir performs Music from the Heart at St. Hilda’s Anglican Church in Sechelt, then again at Calvary Baptist Church in Gibsons, on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. The choir is led by musical director Sara Douglas and piano collaborator Paula Seward, who will perform a delightful Christmas repertoire. Admission is by donation at the door.
Thanks to Sue Milne for reminding us of all these choral events. Watch for more information in the Art Beat column of Coast Reporter as more concerts are confirmed.
