Choral Concerts Central
Choir lovers rejoice: It’s the most wonderful time of year as several of the city’s classical vocal groups perform holiday concerts this week. Sing! – the Music Academy’s free community youth choral program – gets things going at 6 pm December 7 with a free one-hour concert featuring Christmas carols and holiday songs from across faiths and around the world at the Marjorie Luke Theatre…
The Sing! children’s choir will also be a part of the Santa Barbara Choral Society’s ninth annual “Hallelujah Project” concert program at the Lobero on December 9 & 10, which also features Dishwalla lead singer Justin Fox narrating an orchestral version of Clement Moore’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas story. This year the Choral Society singers and orchestra, conducted by Artistic Director JoAnne Wasserman, take on Bach’s “Magnificat” and Randol Bass’“Gloria” as well as familiar carols from Christmas and Hanukkah traditions, before the audience joins in the famed “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah.
Sunday afternoon also brings Holiday Lights, theSanta Barbara Master Chorale’s musical celebration with audience sing-along at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Montecito, where Artistic Director David Torres leads the vocal ensemble through a program to be announced.
The audience is even more important participants for the 41st Annual Messiah Sing-Along on December 12 at First Presbyterian Church, where Phillip McLendon conducts Handel’s choral masterpiece performed by an orchestra that includes members of the Santa Barbara City College Symphony and soloists. The audience provides the chorus for the piece, although it’s perfectly fine to simply sit and listen.
