Not quite in the Christmas spirit yet?
Burnaby North Secondary School students can help you change all that.
The school is holding The Sound of Winter concerts on Tuesday, Dec. 10 and Tuesday, Dec. 17.
The first concert will feature the concert bands, orchestra and marching band. The second will feature the jazz bands and choir.
The bands start playing at 7 p.m. both nights, and doors open at 6:30 p.m.
The concerts are being held in the north gym at Burnaby North Secondary School, 751 Hammarskjold Dr., and admission is by minimum donation of $5 per person (or $20 for families).
"The music students of Burnaby North practise diligently and enthusiastically," an email notes. "The concert is one occasion where they can showcase their music to their family and friends."
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A Burnaby girl has a chance to share the stage with top international dancers this holiday season.
Kelsey Longeau, a Grade 7 student from Parkcrest Elementary School and Wings Gymnastics Club in Burnaby, will appear as a Polichinelle in the Goh Ballet Nutcracker, onstage at The Centre in Vancouver Dec. 14 to 21.
More than 200 local performers will be part of the production, which features the Royal Danish Ballet's principal dancers, Gudrun Bojesen and Ulrik Birkkjaer in the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier Prince.
Musicians from the Vancouver Opera Orchestra will provide live musical accompaniment to Tchaikovsky's classic score.
The production is choreographed by Anna-Marie Holmes.
Kelsey and the rest of the cast will be onstage for 2 p.m. matinees Dec. 14, 15, 21 and 22, as well as 7:30 p.m. evening shows on Dec. 14, 20 and 21.
Ticket prices range from $28 to $83.25 and are available through ticketmaster.ca, by calling 1-855-9085-2787 or visiting www.gohnutcracker.com.
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And speaking of The Nutcracker - the Royal City Youth Ballet is bringing its production back to Burnaby on Friday, Dec. 6.
It's onstage at the Michael J. Fox Theatre, 7373 MacPherson Ave., at 7 p.m.
With a cast of more than 100 performers, the usual gorgeous costumes designed by Chris Sinosich, sets by Jean Claude Olivier and artistic direction by Dolores Kirkwood, it's bound to be a family-pleasing show for the holidays.
After all, what child - or parent, for that matter - won't get swept up in the magic of Tchaikovsky's beautiful music, with the Snow Queen and the Waltz of the Flowers and the Sugar Plum Fairy?
Tickets are being sold through the Massey ticket centre, tickets.masseytheatre.com, or call 604-521-7290.
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A new book traces the rise of homegrown musical star Michael Bublé.
Bublé's longtime manager Beverly Delich has released Come Fly With Me: Michael Bublé's Rise to Stardom, a Memoir - a book written by Delich with Vancouver journalist Shelley Fralic.
The two authors will be holding a book signing at Black Bond Books in New Westminster's Royal City Centre this weekend. It's happening Saturday, Dec. 7 at noon.
The book traces the story of Delich, who, in 1993, discovered the then-unknown 18-year-old Bublé in a talent contest she was coordinating in Vancouver.
She went on the become his manager and moved with him to Toronto and then L.A. as he tried to break into the music business.
"Come Fly With Me is Beverly's vivid, behind-the-scenes story of the making of a modern-day superstar," a press release notes. "She recounts their journey together from early days when she and Bublé struggled to get bookings, to the giddiness of hobnobbing with musical royalty, to the pivotal and sometimes heartbreaking decisions that would ultimately take Bublé to the top and found Beverly on the sidelines."
Come Fly With Me is published by Douglas & McIntyre. For more about the book signing, call Black Bond Books at 604-528-6226 - or just stop by Royal City Centre at Sixth Avenue and Sixth Street. It's free, and everyone is welcome.
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Want to hear what the Simon Fraser University Choir has been up to this term?
The choir is holding its fall concert on Friday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Ryerson United Church, 2195 West 45th Ave. in Vancouver.
The concert features arrangements from popular video games and sci-fi and fantasy movies, including Final Fantasy, Pokemon, World of Warcraft, Portal and more.
The nearly 100-member choir is made up of students, staff, alumni and community members.
Tickets are $20 regular, $10 for students and seniors, or free for children under 12.
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Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment ideas to Julie, jmaclellan@burnabynow.com, or find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
