Elgin Children’s Chorus presents ‘Christmastide Carols’ in December
Kick off the holiday season with the Elgin Children’s Chorus as they present “Christmastide Carols,” the first concert of its 27th season, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at the Elgin Community College Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.
This concert features holiday favorites, traditional carols from France and other Old World countries, and the traditional audience singalong.
The Treble and Intermezzo Choirs, under the direction of Lisa Bettcher, will begin the program by performing “He is Born,” a French carol arranged by Arnold B. Sherman. They will continue with “Hanukkah Dance,” by David Stocker, and conclude with a season favorite “Do You Hear What I Hear,” arranged by Harry Simeone.
Jay Kellner, director and founder, will conduct the Concert Choir, the touring choir, and the select voices that make up the Chamber Choir. Chamber Choir will perform “Jabberwocky,” from “Join the Dance” by Lewis Carol/Carolyn Jennings; “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern,” from Cantata No. 1, by Johann S. Bach; and “Silent Night,” by Joseph Mohr/Franz Gruber, arranged by Kirk Franklin.
The Concert Choir will perform “O Come All Ye Faithful,” arranged by Kellner; “What Child,” by Paul W. Lohman,;“Bright and Glorious,” by Robert Hanson; “Christmastime is Here,” by Vince Guaraldi; “Twas in the Moon of Wintertime,” arranged by Ken Berg; “All is Well,” by Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick; and “The Kalanta of the New Year,” (St. Basil’s Day), arranged by Malcolm Dalglish.
To purchase tickets, visit elgin.edu/arts or call the Elgin Community College Arts Center at (847) 622-0300. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and students. Special group rates are available.
On Saturday, Dec. 8, members of the Elgin Children’s Chorus also will perform with Heartland Voices at its concerts, “Home is Where the Heart Is,” at 3 p.m., and in a candlelight service at 7:30 p.m., at First United Methodist Church, 216 E. Highland Ave., Elgin. Tickets may be purchased through Heartland Voices at heartlandvoices.com/tickets.htm.
The following weekend, Dec. 15-16, members of our Concert Choir will perform in collaboration with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and the Elgin Choral Union, in a season favorite, “’Tis the Season,” at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Performances will be at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16. Tickets may be purchased at Hemmens Box Office, or by calling (847) 931-5900.
Midseason auditions for the Elgin Children’s Chorus will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17, and from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, at Elgin Community College Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive. Contact Beth Boelter, executive director, at (847) 931-7464, to schedule an audition, or email at bboelter@elgin.edu. Rehearsals are on Monday evenings, and begin again on Jan. 7.
The Elgin Children’s Chorus is an in-residence ensemble at the Elgin Community College Arts Center. The program is also supported, in part, by grants from the Grand Victoria Foundation, EFS Foundation, the Elgin Cultural Arts Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, and the Cornelia A. and Florence B. Palmer Foundation.