This Friday we celebrate the 26th Festival of Lights and as a result the festive season has “officially” begun. Thus it’s time for some great Christmas music. And I don’t mean the canned Christmas carols we’ve been hearing ad nauseum in various stories since Halloween, but rather first class choral renditions of wonderful Christmas music.
First up is the annual Carol Fest featuring many traditional Christmas carols.
This year’s carol fest, presented by the Summerland Ministerial Association, will be this coming Sunday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. at Summerland Middle School.
The Summerland Community Choir is comprised of 75 members, from five Summerland churches and the Summerland community, from youth to seniors. Next up are the Penticton Tune Agers who perform at Summerland United Church on Dec. 8.
They are followed by Musaic Vocal Ensemble who are presenting “The Moon of Wintertime” on Saturday, Dec. 14 at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church. This year’s program will include a number of audience participation sing-alongs and many old favourites by the choir. They are followed by a special fundraising performance of the Penticton Concert Band with “The Senses Converge” on December 10 at the Shatford Centre.
The following week the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra present Handel’s Messiah at the Cleland Theatre in Penticton. Handel’s Messiah is renowned as one of the greatest and most popular works of all time.
A wonderful quartet of soloists and the OSO Chorus join the OSO to fill the stage with music.
By turns contemplative and glorious, this is a well loved tradition guaranteed to put you in the Christmas spirit.
In addition to great music the Summerland Singers and Players are presenting a dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol Friday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary of the Summerland United Church.
We are blessed with two more plays being performed in our area. The Peachland Players present The Wind in the Willows at 4th Street Place, Peachland on Nov. 27, 28 29 and 30 and Dec. 1.
At the Cannery Stage in Penticton Many Hats present Jessie’s Landing. This play by award-winning New Brunswick playwright John Spurway, runs until Dec. 7.
It may be cold and the sky may be grey, but with bright lights and talented actors and singers there is much to brighten our winter days.
If you know of an event you feel should be included in the Arts Palette or on the Arts Council’s online calendar, please email artspalette@summerlandarts.com or call 250-404-3225.
The SCAC online Event Calendar is on the News page of summerlandarts.com Additional information can be found at facebook.com/SummerlandArts. Keep up with current news by following @artspalette
The Arts Palette is written by David Finnis, Publicity Chair and President of the Summerland Community Arts Council, P.O. Box 1217, 9533 Main Street, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z0.
