Coastal Sound Choirs Announce December Holiday Concerts
Featuring performances in Coquitlam and Vancouver, Coastal Sound’s 2015-2016 season offers something for everyone. Three holiday choral concerts are scheduled in December: the award-winning Coastal Sound Youth Choir performs at St. John’s Shaughnessy in Vancouver on December 11th, and the annual Comfort & Joy performances take place at Evergreen Cultural Centre on Sunday, December 13th.
In the Tri-Cities, Comfort & Joy will feature Harpist Gillian Skinner accompanying Coastal Sound choirs in winter-inspired songs and traditional carols.
“There is nothing quite like the sound of choir and harp together,” says Coastal Sound artistic director Diana Clark. “Some might even say it’s heavenly” she adds, grinning. Gillian Skinner, who graduated from the prestigious Eastman School of Music in New York, will be performing on her full sized concert harp. “Her harp is as dramatic and beautiful looking, as it sounds”, enthuses Clark.
The 3pm Comfort & Joy concert includes singers “small to tall” in a well paced and varied program that audiences have come to expect and love from Coastal Sound choirs. “I’ve noticed that audiences get tremendous joy in seeing youngsters perform, even if they aren’t related to the children! Children can be artistic and poised… and there are always wonderful surprise moments of sheer spontaneity and exuberance that happen when young people sing together. It’s very entertaining and uplifting, and fills me with hope” says Clark.
The evening performance is an opportunity to hear the acclaimed Coastal Sound Children’s Choir and DeCoro- the Adult choir- share the program. There will be ancient carols, modern holiday songs, improvised songs, even some folk music and sing-a-longs. And of course a lot of harp accompaniment. The choirs will create an intimate and cozy atmosphere in Evergreen Cultural Centre, with candle light and sound that surrounds the audience–literally–as singers move and sing throughout the space creating soothing improvised vocal textures and harmonies.
Clark wanted listeners to hear the wide variety of possibility for harp and voices. “Of course there has to be a movement from Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, the most famous Christmas piece for harp and choir, so we’ve chosen This Little Babe because it is two minutes of pure awesomeness. There is a gorgeous Manx Lullaby, from the Isle of Man; an ancient Catalonian carol from the 1500’s; a piece that emulates Peruvian pan pipes and rain. We are also giving the premiere of an arrangement of the late Irish-Canadian Dermot O’Reilly’s folk song Children’s Winter. It’s a wonderfully eclectic mix of seasonal music, but it all weaves together beautifully. There are also some voice and percussion pieces in the mix, and audiences should expect to sing too!”
Christmas with Coastal Sound Youth Choir: Friday, December 11th, 2015. 7:30pm–St. John’s Shaughnessy Anglican Church, 1490 Nanton Avenue, Vancouver. Celebrate the joy of the season with the award-winning Coastal Sound Youth Choir. A holiday tradition for many lower mainland families, this concert features carols old and new in an evening of introspection and celebration.
Comfort & Joy with Harp: Sunday, December 13th, 2015. 3:00 pm & 7pm–Evergreen Cultural Centre, 1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam. Choral music to soothe, uplift and inspire during the holiday season. Grin at the adorable youngsters, sing-along exuberantly and enjoy holiday music old and new. Singers of all ages share the stage for this annual, family-friendly concert. Guest Harpist Gillian Skinner joins the choirs to create an extra-special Christmas ambiance!
3PM: Con Brio, Con Bella, Sources, Children’s Choir & DeCoro.
7PM: Coastal Sound Children’s Choir & DeCoro
VIP Tickets Available for purchase. For more information download our order form. 2015-16 Season Tix VIP orderform
Ticket pricing and purchase information for all shows Click Here
About Coastal Sound Music Academy
Coastal Sound Music connects singers and outstanding choral music educators with the community. From the wee 4 to 5 year old “Sources” song play program, to the professional and award winning Youth and Children’s Choirs, to DeCoro (a choral experience for adults), there is a place for singers to share a sense of spirit, artistry, heart and community.
For more information, photos or to request an interview contact:
Andrea Howorth 604.802.2440 or 604.552.2762
@coastalsound
Printable version of Press Release CSMA Press Release – Holiday Concerts 2015