Shawn Conner outlines five reasons to check out Christmas with the Vancouver Bach Choir.

Season kickoff

The Vancouver Bach Choir kicks off its 2017/18 season with the family holiday tradition Christmas with the Bach Choir. The entire 400-member choir from ages five to 75 sing Christmas carols. The annual event is capped off by the traditional singing of O Holy Night.

A Touch of Brass

The in-demand Vancouver quintet will add a dash of seasonal spice to the proceedings with brass accompaniment.

Christmas spirit

To help get everyone in the holiday mood, the audience will be invited to sing along on some of the carols.

Handel’s Messiah

Another VBC holiday tradition is the annual performance of Handel’s Messiah. On the Saturday Christmas with the Bach Choir, a cast of soloists and members of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra will join the 90-member Choir for the 1741 oratorio. (Dec. 9 at 8 p.m., Orpheum Theatre)

History

The Vancouver Bach Choir formed in 1930. Though its dedicated most of its 87-year existence to classical European works, in recent years it has expanded its repertoire. Earlier this year, for example, they performed music from The Exorcist — well, the choir performed music that was used in that 1973 horror classic: rock guitarist Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells.