Christmas concerts all around us!

We are well into December now, and there is no shortage of holiday (can I say Christmas?) concerts available in the Niagara area as well as further afield.  So this weekend, I thought I would round up a listing of some of the more notable musical events coming up this month you might want to catch.  This is by no means a complete list; a more complete listing can be found on the Calendar page of my website at www.finemusic.ca.  Happy holidays!

Chorus Niagara
Niagara's premiere choral ensemble presents their annual Christmas concert tonight, in fact, at Calvary Church in north St. Catharines at 7:30 with "A Canadian Christmas Carol."  Artistic Director Robert Cooper has programmed an evening of Canadian carols (yes, there are plenty of them!) as well as poetry, prose and images of the season, with Chorus Niagara being joined by narrator Benedict Campbell and organist Lynne Honsberger.  For tickets, call the Brock box office at 905-688-5550, ext. 3257 or you can pick them up at the door this evening.

Niagara Symphony (NSO)
Next weekend the Niagara Symphony hosts their Family Series concert Saturday afternoon at 2:30 at the Sean O'Sullivan Theatre at the Centre for the Arts, Brock University.  The highlight of the shorter concert will be Raymond Briggs' The Snowman, and the classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas, along with a full complement of seasonal favourites, all conducted by Associate Conductor Laura Thomas.  The narrator for The Snowman is Niagara/Toronto broadcaster Frank Proctor, and the soprano soloists are Carlo Rescigno and Alexandre Brillon.

Saturday evening at 7:30 and Sunday afternoon at 2:30, the NSO presents their Holiday Pops! concert, with Music Director Bradley Thachuk conducting the orchestra with guest vocalist Joey DeBenedetto along with the Chorus Niagara Children's Choir.  Local broadcaster Tim Denis is the narrator for both concerts, entitled "A Radio City Christmas!" and will be featured on the classic Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.  Lots more music on the programme as well, including the ever-popular Christmas Festival by Leroy Anderson.  For tickets to all the NSO concerts, call the Brock box office at 905-688-5550, ext. 3257.  Once again, I will be in the lobby before, after and during intermission with a table brimming with great music available for purchase, too!

Rotary Christmas Choral Concert
The 13th Annual Rotary Christmas Choral Concert comes up December 15th at 7 pm at the Shaw Festival Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake.  Area choirs will be participating in the inter-denominational event, including the Bethany Mennonite Church, Niagara United Mennonite Church, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Grace United Church and the Evergreen Singers, as well as the St. Vincent Catholic Church Choir.  The ever-popular Bethany Handbell Choir as well as the St. Michaels School Glee Club and a host of instrumental musicians will also be taking part.

This is a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Niagara-on-the-Lake, and tickets are only $ 20 for adults and $ 10 for children under 12.  Proceeds go to the St. Georges Outreach Breakfast Programme in St. Catharines.  For tickets, call the Shaw Festival box office, or pick them up at any of the participating churches or Simpson's Pharmasave & Simpson's Apothecary in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Gallery Players of Niagara
Niagara's premiere chamber music ensemble presents "A Glissandi Christmas" Friday evening, December 20th and Saturday, December 21st, both concerts at 7:30 pm.  The Friday concert is at Grace United Church in Niagara-on-the-Lake; the Saturday concert is at Rodman Hall Arts Centre in St. Catharines.  Guest narrator will be Shaw Festival actor Guy Bannerman on Dylan Thomas' "A Child's Christmas in Wales" and a selection of poems and short stories.  Musicians are Deborah Braun, harp; Douglas Miller, flute; and David Braun, violin.

Tickets will be available at the door at both concerts, or you can purchase them in advance at 905-468-1525, or log on to www.galleryplayers.ca.

Centre for the Arts, Brock University
The seasonal favourite The Nutcracker is presented by Ballet Jorgen Canada Sunday afternoon at 2:30 at the David S. Howes Theatre at the Centre for the Arts, and at the Sean O'Sullivan Theatre, the Leahy Family Christmas comes up December 19th at 7:30 pm, and local favourite John McDermott brings his holiday show back to Brock on Secember 21st at 2:30 pm.  There is always lots of great programming available at the Centre for the Arts beyond the seasonal offerings, of course, and you can find out the complete listings by going to my Calendar page at www.finemusic.ca.

For tickets go to www.Arts.BrockU.ca or call 905-688-5550, ext. 3257 or toll free, 1-866-617-3257.

That's it for the local listings; mid-week we'll look at some of the out-of town concerts and events still to come this month.

Enjoy the weekend!

December 7th, 2013.