It’s not Christmas without the sounds of a choir singing.
Choral music fans have a couple of Christmas gifts to choose from this holiday season, with two choral concerts in the city on Saturday, Dec. 16.
AMABILIS SINGERS
At New Westminster Christian Reformed Church (8255 13th Ave., Burnaby), the Amabilis Singers are presenting A Christmas Gift at 2 p.m.
The 65-voice choir, led by artistic director Ramona Luengen and accompanied by pianist Ingrid Verseveldt, presents a program of music celebrating the joy and tender beauty of the Christmas season.
It features Kim Arnesen’s His Light in Us, Sara Quartel’s arrangement of The Huron Carol, Juso Elberdin’s Ubi caritas and Hyo Won Woo’s exuberant Cum Sancto Spiritu, alongside familiar carols and sing-alongs.
Tickets are $20, or free for children under 12. They’re available from choir members, at the door, or by calling 604-503-2074. See www.amabilissingers.org for details.
MUSICA INTIMA
The eight-voice professional vocal ensemble musica intima is bringing its traditional Christmas concert, Nativité, to Burnaby for the first time, with a concert at 2 p.m. at Brentwood Church, 1600 Delta Ave.
Repertoire for the concert was pulled from the ensemble’s album Nativité, which was nominated for a Western Caandian Music Award. Audiences will hear such enduring classics as O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Lully, Lulla, Ave Maria and Five Carols.
The ensemble includes Burnaby’s own Steve Maddock (bass) and Siri Olesen, artistic manager.
The concert is also on Dec. 17 at St. Philip’s Anglican Church in Vancouver, Dec. 19 at Knox Presbyterian Church in New Westminster and Dec. 22 at Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver.
Tickets are $20 for students, $25 for seniors, and $30 general admission. See www.musicaintima.org for details and tickets.
