Two of Columbia Choirs of Metropolitan Seattle’s international award-winning family of eight choirs, the Vocal Ensemble and Concord Chamber Choir, will be featured at the Performing Arts in Port Ludlow holiday concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. Under the direction of founder-director Steve Stevens, the two choirs will present a varied program of secular and religious songs interspersed with poetry readings and audience sing-a-longs. The concert is sponsored in part by Columbia Bank.
Columbia Choirs, celebrating 30 years, trains approximately 300 singers annually. The choirs have consistently won international acclaim for their high standard of singing artistry and musicianship, have performed in the United States and internationally, appeared on national network television and have sung for a President of the United States, the Pope and members of the British Royal Family.
The Vocal Ensemble mixed choir is made up of experienced singers in ninth grade (or voice change for young men) through college age. Merry Jensen provides piano accompaniment. The Concord Chamber Choir is a mixed adult choir of experienced singers, college age and above. Aaron Goldstein provides accompaniment. Robert Knoll, oboist, and Julie Reed, cellist, also will accompany.
The afternoon’s first set will feature the Vocal Ensemble in energetic, gospel style songs with the Concord Chamber Choir completing the first half with works by Tomás Luis de Victoria, Ola Gjeilo, John Rutter and Stephen Paulus. The second set will include secular music of the season in both pop and jazz styles.
Bay Club doors open at 3 p.m. for seat selection, a complimentary non-alcoholic drink of holiday wassail and the usual wine bar. Port Ludlow Artists’ League member Reg Kleweno will display his sterling and natural gemstone jewelry during the pre-concert social and during intermission.
Tickets at $24 and can be purchased online at PortLudlowArtsCouncil.com. They are also available at the Bay Club, 120 Spinnaker Place in Port Ludlow. For directions and to check on ticket availability, call 360-437-2208.
