Nothing says Christmas like the sound of a choir singing.
Local choral music fans have several offerings to choose from in Burnaby and New Westminster in looking for music to celebrate the season. Among them:
? Saturday, Nov. 26: First out of the gate is Elektra Women's Choir, under the artistic direction of Morna Edmundson, with Chez Nous: Christmas With Elektra. That's at 2 p.m. at Queens Avenue United Church, 529 Queens Ave. in New Westminster. The choir is being joined by Vancouver's acclaimed Borealis String Quartet and the Surrey Children's Choir in a concert that will feature holiday favourites and some new discoveries.
Tickets are $28 regular, $22 for seniors or $10 for youth.
For those who can't make the afternoon gig, there's also a 7: 30 p.m. performance that same night at Ryerson United Church, 2195 West 45th Ave. in Vancouver. Tickets are $28 regular, $22 for seniors or students (note that the $10 youth special price does NOT apply to the evening concert).
Check out www.elektra.ca for details.
? Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 10 and 11: New Westminster's Amabilis Singers join forces with the Lyric Singers for a concert of memorable Christmas music, including Mark Sirett's Thou Shalt Know Him, John Rutter's Christmas Lullaby, Stephen Hatfield's The Virgin Mary Had a Bay Boy, and many favourite carols and sing-alongs.
Amabilis is directed by Burnaby's Ramona Luengen, while the Lyric Singers are led by Nancy Rahn.
The concert is on 3 p.m. on Saturday at Queens Avenue United Church, 529 Queens Ave. in New Westminster.
It's then on Sunday at 7: 30 p.m. at Shaughnessy Heights United Church, 1550 West 33rd Ave. in Vancouver.
Tickets are $20, or free for children under 12. Call 604-433-6538.
? Saturday, Dec. 17: The Vancouver Cantata Singers - directed by Burnaby's Eric Hannan - present their annual favourite, A Christmas Reprise, on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. at Holy Rosary Cathedral, 646 Richards St. in downtown Vancouver.
The song list covers a range of music, from holiday favourites such as Joy to the World and Away in a Manger to Arvo Pärt's Bogoroditse Devo and Spanish Lullabies.
The afternoon ends, by tradition, with Franz Biehl's arrangement of Ave Maria. Tickets are $18.
For more details, check out www. vancouvercantatasingers.com or call 604730-8856.
? Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17 and 18: Burnaby's own Phoenix Chamber Choir is offering up A Phoenix Christmas.
Phoenix, directed by Ramona Luengen, will join forces with the Burnaby District Youth Choir, under the direction of Patti Fletcher.
Music will include Rihards Dubra's Felix namque es, Luengen's We Shall Hear the Angels Sing, Carol of the Magi for cello and choir, by John Rutter, and arrangements of favourite carols by Chester Alwes, David Hill and David Willcocks.
It's on Saturday at New Westminster Christian Reformed Church, 8255 13th Ave. in Burnaby, and on Sunday at Shaughnessy Heights United Church, 1550 West 33rd Ave. in Vancouver. Both concerts are at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $25 regular, $20 for students and seniors, or $10 for secondary school students.
You can buy online at www.phoenix chamberchoir.bc.ca or call 604-584-4755. (Note that group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more - tickets for $15 apiece. Call or email tickets@phoenix chamberchoir.bc.ca to set it up.)
Numerous other choral concerts are happening around the region over the next month. For a detailed listing, check out Julie MacLellan's blog at www.burnabynow.com, or go directly to the post at www.tinyurl.com/ ChristmasChoirs.
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