CHORAL EVENTS STRIKE CHORDS FOR HOLIDAY SEASON
Check out a roundup of some of the holiday vocal shows coming up in the metro area.
The sacred roots of choral music seem to reach deepest during the holidays, when churches and community centers lose their exclusive hold on performances and voices ring from unexpected places. Here’s our roundup of some of the most notable holiday-vocal shows in the metro area (and beyond) in the coming weeks.
Sounds of the Rockies. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at Gates Concert Hall, Newman Center, 2344 E. Iliff Ave. Tickets: $22-$32, 303-871-7720 ext. 1 or newmantix.com/sor
This male a capella group’s all-ages concert (this year dubbed “A Year Without Santa Claus”) will offer traditional carols and sacred Christmas songs, a visit from award-winning barbershop quartet Maelstrom, and KEZW 1430-AM’s Rick Crandall as emcee.
A Kantorei Christmas. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at First Plymouth Congregational Church, 3501 S. Colorado Blvd. in Englewood. Tickets: $20-$25, free for students; kantorei.org
A frequent sell-out, this top-notch vocal group’s upcoming shows continue its 21st season in holiday style. Kantorei will be joined by harpist Janet Kay Harriman “in performing newly composed holiday treats and arrangements of some of your favorites,” according to Kantorei’s website. Expect to be asked to join in. Other performances at 3 p.m. on Dec. 17 at Christ Church Denver, and 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 19 at the Lone Tree Arts Center.
Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church Sanctuary Choir. 7 p.m. Dec. 8-9; 3 p.m. Dec. 10 at Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church, 10150 E. Belleview Ave. in Greenwood Village. Tickets: Free, but contact 303-779-9909 or cherrycreekpres.org/ christmas for details
After more than three decades, and with retirement looming in May 2018, University of Denver Vocal Arts chairman Ken Cox will conduct his final Christmas Concert with a blend of traditionals and new music. Expect an 80-plus person choir and orchestra at “The First Noel” show — with kids having the chance to “conduct” the orchestra afterward. Did we mention it’s free? The Evergreen Chorale. 7:30 p.m. Dec.
8 at Central Presbyterian Church, 1660 Sherman St. Tickets: $17-$28, evergreenchorale.org
Evergreen Chorale pegs its “Ceremony of Caroles” program as “a tapestry of holiday music for choir, harp and piano,” with Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony” centerpiece in addition to traditional choral works, with help from the chorale’s chamber choir Altezza, directed by Christine Gaudreau. Also at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at Golden’s Rockland Community Church.
The Colorado Women’s and Colorado Men’s Chorales unite for this affordable, family-friendly event that caters to music-lovers who can barely contain their own voices. Women’s Chorale music director Jennifer Ferguson will offer pre-show vocal instruction “so everyone is guaranteed to be in fine voice in time for Santa’s arrival,” according to a press release. Think Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” from “Messiah,” a kid-friendly post-show Christmas festival (Santa, cookies, crafts, etc.) and more.
The 31st installment of this “Deck the Hall”-themed concert includes the chorale with a guest instrumental ensemble, plus the Summit Ensemble and Pikes Peak Singers of the Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale, directed by Kimberly Schultz and Victoria Lipscomb. With a lobby performance from Eagle View Middle School’s choir and other kid-friendly surprises.
These wide-ranging shows from the Arvada Chorale will highlight music from the group’s “very first concert” 40 years ago, plus selections from its history and new songs, “from Vittoria to Handel, Irving Berlin and beyond.”
A robust variety show that offers performances from guest artist Alvy Powell and a 150-voice choir and full orchestra, “Christmas Joy!” also sports a 17-piece big band, the Pikes Peak Ringers, Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale, Celtic music and more.
Don’t worry if you lost your menorah before the seventh installment of this Hanukkah celebration: Colorado Hebrew Chorale can provide one for you on-site. With special guests from the Denver Jewish Day School Glee Club, this festival is family-friendly, includes food and kid’s activities, and (of course) commemorates the third night of Hanukkah.
The society’s annual performances of Handel’s “Messiah,” directed by Paul Dankers and featuring Julian Hallmark as concertmaster, will feature community members in the chorus and orchestra. Additional performances include Dec. 15 (Basalt Middle School), Dec. 16 (Aspen’s Wheeler Opera House) and Dec. 17 (St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Glenwood Springs).
The Denver Chorale, with vocal students from Denver School of the Arts, will tackle the 1951 Gian Carlo Menotti opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” along with English carols, a Yiddish call and response, and other holidays favorites.
As Colorado’s bestknown pop-vocal act, FACE returns with a full slate of “Crazy for Christmas” shows at Denver’s Paramount Theatre on Dec. 16, plus additional performances in Grand Junction (Dec. 9), Brighton (Dec. 14), Steamboat Springs (Dec. 17), Longmont (Dec. 20), Denver’s Soiled Dove (Dec. 21) and Colorado Springs (Dec. 22). Visit facevocalband.com for details. A Holiday Classic: Handel’s “Messiah.”
Colorado Bach Ensemble will present this classic oratorio in its entirety, with what it promises are “some of the best baroque soloists in the country.” Also at 4 p.m. Dec. 17 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Denver.
“And on Earth, Peace” will feature Augustana Lutheran Church’s Chancel Choir and Augustana Ringers, with AVE and Stratus Chamber Orchestra. Led by choir director Dick Larson, and minister of music and organist Cindy Lindeen-Martin.