Annual Sing Joy! set for Dec. 2

Pictou County’s Trinitarians choir will be joined by the Voicetime Studio Singers, all under the direction of Monica George Punke, as they present their annual Sing Joy! Concert.

The event is Sunday, Dec. 2, at 3 p.m., Sharon St. John United Church, Stellarton.

Sing Joy! is a program that weaves many and various carols and other seasonal songs together around a theme.

“This year’s program celebrates that deep bond of love that is powerfully present in adults who are the carers and protectors of helpless, utterly dependent, vulnerable children,” says Punke.

Sing Joy! is a blend of musical styles and periods. This year’s program spans several centuries, from that of the American contemporary Christian band MercyMe’s tender love song to the baby Jesus, as expressed by Joseph in Joseph’s Lullaby, to the medieval Coventry Carol, a lullaby sung by the mothers of the children doomed to die as a result of Herod’s decree.

The program will feature a wide variety of material, all illustrating the deep connections inherent in this year’s theme. Many will be lullabies.

“Every lullaby,” explains Punke, “tells a story. Each takes us to a special time, place and set of circumstances. We learn so much of the characters in the lullaby’s story. And we can feel their tenderness, their fears, joys, hopes and sorrows.”

Audience carols and seasonal songs are always important in a Sing Joy! concert as is the concluding number when all the singers join forces to present Mark Hayes’s arrangement of Christmas texts titled Sing Joy!

Accompanying the choirs is Sandra Johnson on organ and piano. Instrumentalist will include flutists Jane Miller and Angela Campbell.

Tickets are on sale from local choir members, at New Glasgow’s H&R Music, Pictou Pharmasave, Office of Sharon St. John United Church, or by calling 902752-1297. Adults: $15; seniors: $12; and students: $7. Advance ticket purchases are highly recommended.