Vancouver Welsh Men's Choir tours six-concert series A Ringing, Swinging Christmas around Metro Vancouver, December 2 to 16
Collaborations with student choirs, medieval ensemble Winter Harp, flutist Bernard Blary, and two soprano soloists add to the holiday cheer
Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir.
Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir presents the concert series A Ringing, Swinging Christmas, featuring six performances at venues across Metro Vancouver, from December 2 to 16
THE VANCOUVER WELSH Men’s Choir is bringing its Celtic-inspired style to the stage once again this holiday season with A Ringing, Swinging Christmas. Led by the choir’s music director Jonathan Quick, the ensemble of over 50 singers is hosting six concerts with special guests, each at a different venue in Metro Vancouver.
The series kicks off on December 2 at White Rock Baptist Church at 2:30 pm, with a guest performance by the Coastal Sound Youth Choir. Led by conductor Will de Sousa, the dynamic group of young singers between the ages of 15 to 24 is presenting a six-song set, plus collaborating with the men’s choir for closing numbers.
On December 3 at 2:30 pm, the choir hosts its annual collaboration with Winter Harp at the Massey Theatre in New Westminster. This festive favourite showcases the individual talents of the men’s choir and Winter Harp before uniting them for a combined finale. Embarking on their 30th anniversary tour this December, Winter Harp is a seven-member ensemble that combines classical and Celtic harps with flutes, percussion, singing, and rare medieval instruments—expect the ethereal notes of the five foot-tall, 35-string bass psaltery, and the bagpipes-like sound of the hurdy-gurdy, which is powered by turning a crank.
Winter Harp.
The Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir journeys to the Surrey Arts Centre on December 5 at 7:30 pm, and is joined again by the Coastal Sound Youth Choir at the Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Vancouver on December 9 at 2:30 pm.
December 15 brings the crew to North Vancouver’s Centennial Theatre for a 7:30 pm performance with a student guest choir from Argyle Secondary School. The concert tour wraps up on December 16 at 7:30 pm at Shaughnessy Heights United Church, where the men’s choir will be joined by another student guest choir from Magee Secondary School.
Flutist Bernard Blary is accompanying the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir at five of the six shows. The Maple Ridge-based freelance artist is a frequent chamber ensemble performer, and has held the role of principal flutist with the Burnaby Symphony Orchestra, Surrey City Orchestra, and Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra.
Two soprano soloists, Deeandra Miranda and Melanie Hiepler, are also joining the men’s choir for performances throughout the series. Both the promising young vocalists are recipients of the choir’s annual student bursaries for musical development. Miranda accompanies the group on December 2, 5, and 16, and Hiepler chimes in on December 9 and 15.
More information about each of the performances, plus links to purchase tickets, are at the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir.
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