Christmas is a special time of year for Vancouver Welsh Men Choir, who have been singing in Surrey, White Rock and other cities for more than 30 years.
The choir’s annual concert at Surrey Arts Centre is a popular draw, with another performance planned at the Main Stage theatre Tuesday, Dec. 5, with soprano soloist Deeandra Miranda.
Surrey Civic Theatres presents “A Ringing, Singing Christmas,” a 7:30 p.m. show that promises a night of joy, humour and music directed by Jonathan Quick and Karen Lee-Morlang on piano.
In December, the choir’s six-concert Christmas tour of Metro Vancouver theatres starts Saturday, Dec. 2 at White Rock Baptist Church (2:30 p.m. start) with guest choir Coastal Sound Youth Choir and soloist Miranda.
Vancouver Welsh Men Choir involves close to 60 auditioned singers led by professional musicians.
“We are a diverse group of individuals, all coming together from different cultures and backgrounds — not just Welsh people,” notes an About Us post on the choir’s website (vancouverchoir.ca).
“However, we all have one thing in common: a passion for singing. We love to perform both traditional and contemporary choral songs, and always have fun with our music, with each other and with our audiences.”
In four-part harmony, the choir’s performances reflect “a Celtic musical heritage, evoking images of other places and other times from the solemnity of cathedrals to the camaraderie of the local pub,” according to a bio.
Other local concert dates include Dec. 3 at Massey Theatre in New Westminster (with Winter Harp), Dec. 9 at Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver, Dec. 15 at Centennial Theatre in North Vancouver and Dec. 16 at Shaughnessy Heights United Church, Vancouver.
“All performances (except Dec. 3) will feature guest flutist Bernard Blary, accompanying many of our songs,” the website explains. “Most concerts are $35 for adults and seniors, $10 for children and youth (18 years and below); slightly higher for Dec. 3 and Dec. 5.”
• RELATED, from 2021: Welsh Men’s Choir sings ‘heartfelt carols’ at Surrey theatre after two-year concert hiatus.
Elsewhere in Surrey, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra returns to Bell Performing Arts Centre with its “Traditional Christmas” concerts on Saturday, Dec. 9, with performances at 4 and 7:30 p.m.
Later in the month, an “O Come All Ye Soulful” concert Dec. 16 will feature vocalist Dawn Pemberton, bassist/bandleader Jodi Proznick and band at Surrey City Hall’s Centre Stage theatre.