Encore! is out and about at Thrifty’s in Duncan in preparation for their concerts. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)

Encore! is out and about at Thrifty’s in Duncan in preparation for their concerts. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)

VIDEO: It’s a glorious time when Encore! takes the stage for Christmas

Popular women's chorus offers two concerts this holiday season

The Encore! Women’s Choir are crying “Gloria!” this holiday season as they present two delightful Christmas concerts Dec. 8-9.

Under the direction of Christine Dandy and accompanied by pianist Yvonne Gillespie, the singers present a programme of well known Christmas favourites, as well as some new and challenging pieces, showcasing their efforts to produce outstanding musical diversity.

This show is all about songs that capture the joy and love of the holiday season. From classic music such as ‘Laudamus Te’ (‘We Praise You’) by Vivaldi and ‘O Regem coeli’ (‘O King of Heaven’) by Tomas Luis de Victoria to ‘Text Me Merry Christmas’ arranged by Roger Emerson, these gals cover a lot of ground.

Traditional tunes such as ‘The Holly and the Ivy’, ‘Stille Nacht’, and Gustav Holst’s ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ will be juxtaposed with the gospel spiritual ‘Go Where I Send Thee’, Samuel Barber’s ‘Sure on this Shining Night’ and David Maddux’s uplifting ‘Tching-Tchinga-Ryah’.

And, according to choir publicist Heather MacGregor, “Of course, we will carry on with the much-anticipated and appreciated Encore! Christmas tradition of including audience sing-along songs.”

The show on Saturday, Dec. 8, takes place at Chemainus United Church. Doors open at 2 p.m. with the concert starting at 2:30.

Then, the following day, Sunday, Dec. 9, the choir will sing at Duncan United Church, again with doors opening at 2 p.m. and music at 2:30.

Advance Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children under 12. If you wait to buy at the door, you’ll pay $20, and you may find the venues are already packed. Buy now. Get them from choir members, Volume One Books, online at www.encorewomenschoir.com, or by calling 250-715-1568.

Cowichan Valley Citizen