Event Spotlight: Holiday Pops by Wakefield Choral Society

Join the Wakefield Choral Society for its Holiday Pops Concert on Saturday, Dec. 10th at 7:30 p.m. at the .

[Note: The following was provided by the Wakefield Choral Society.]

This popular annual celebration of holiday music features performances by the Wakefield Choral Society and the Middlesex Concert Band. The concert is a family event; seating is at round tables rather than auditorium style, and cookies and soft drinks are sold before the program and during intermission. Tickets are $120 for an 8-person table, $150 for a 10-person table, and $15 for an individual. Tickets will be sold at the door.

The concert will begin with a collection of holiday pieces sung by the Choral Society accompanied by pianist Joe Beninati of Reading. The set opens with Personent Hodie arranged by John Rutter followed by Cornelius Freundt’s 16th century madrigal Geboren Ist Uns Der Heilige Christ. Next are two excerpts from Handel‘s The Messiah: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion and And the Glory of the Lord; then the English carol I Saw Three Ships and Gloria in Excelsis, a piece attributed to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Two Chanukah pieces will be sung: Eight Nights, Eight Lights and Festival of the Flame. The set ends with three well-known pieces: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and Jingle Bells.

The performance marks the Choral Society’s first concert under the direction of Sean Landers who is also the Choral Director at Belmont High School.

“This is my first year directing the Choral Society, and although they have a great reputation, I wasn’t sure what to expect," Landers said. "But I’ve quickly learned that this is a group of people who not only love singing, but are willing to work hard and be the best they can. I think the audience will really enjoy listening to them.”

After a short intermission, The Middlesex Concert Band takes the stage to perform a set of holiday favorites from their repertoire. The Middlesex Concert Band is under the direction of Mark E. Olson.

For the concert finale, the chorus and band will join together to perform "Do You Hear What I Hear?" As is the tradition every year, the audience will be invited to join the Choral Society and the Band in closing the concert with Handel’s "Hallelujah Chorus."

The Wakefield Choral Society is comprised of amateur voices from Wakefield, Melrose, Stoneham, Winchester, and other towns. The chorus and the Middlesex Concert Band present a holiday concert annually. The chorus also performs a spring concert and participates in Wakefield’s Veterans’ Day ceremonies. Membership is open to anyone who enjoys singing and can carry a tune; the group happily combines all levels of singing ability. Rehearsals are held weekly on Monday evenings at 7 p.m. in the Music Room of Wakefield High School. The first three rehearsals of the upcoming spring season, on January 9th, 16th, and 23th are considered “open rehearsals.” They offer an opportunity for newcomers to decide if they want to join before paying the membership fee for the season. The spring season will culminate with a Concert at the Performing Arts Hall in the Wakefield High School in May 2011. For more information see www.wakefieldchoralsociety.org.

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