Local group the Cantando Singers are holding their annual winter holiday concert, Christmas Is A Comin’, bringing a wide variety of music from Renaissance carols to a coral arrangement of Gordon Lightfoot’s Song for a Winter’s Night and more.
Taking place Dec. 8 in Knox United Church’s lounge, the group’s conductor, Ann Barber, said they specialize in intimate concerts. They currently have 13 members and sing without piano accompaniment.
“The group started off as being sort of early music specialists, but now we do a much wider array of things from Renaissance right up to the ’40s and ’50s,” said Barber.
That includes 16th century French and English Carols to Baby It’s Cold Outside, Holly Jolly Christmas and others.
“It’s quite a mix.”
Practising since September, the group is particularly excited to perform Song for a Winter’s Night, written by Lightfoot, but arranged by young B.C. composer/computer scientist Robin Salkeld, said Barber.
“We’re doing a song that was… arranged by Joan Gosselin who was a very long-time music teacher and choral conductor herself in Qualicum. It’s Go Tell It on the Mountain,” said Barber. “She’s passed on now about 10 years ago, but many people would recognize her name.”
They’ll also be performing an arrangement of Robert Frost’s poem, Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening, and of course the concert’s titular song, Christmas Is A Comin’.
The concert takes place at Knox church (345 Pym. St, Parksville) on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. in the lounge.
Admission is $12 at the door, with sales beginning at about 6:30 p.m.
The Cantando Singers are also always looking for more members. Anyone interested can contact Barber at ajbarber@shaw.ca.