If you go
› What: Chattanooga Boys Choir’s Singing Christmas Tree.› When: Noon and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.› Where: Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St.› Admission: $15-$40.› Website: www.chattanoogaboyschoir.org.
Chattanooga Girls Choir sings Friday
“Be a Candle of Hope” is the theme of the Chattanooga Girls Choir’s 30th winter concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, in Ridgedale Baptist Church, 1831 Hickory Valley Road. The five ensembles within the choir feature girls in grades 2-12.A silent auction will be set up in the lobby one hour before the concert. Seating begins 30 minutes prior.Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for children, plus handling fees. Today is the deadline to order tickets online: chattanoogagirlschoir.org/events/winter-concert.
As is tradition, youngest members of the Chattanooga Boys Choir will close the first half of the show with a Nativity scene.The Chattanooga Boys Choir will present a rollicking musical retelling of Clement C. Moore’s “A Visit From St. Nicholas” when the choristers are joined by the Chattanooga Ballet, CSO Youth Orchestra and The Metropolitan Bells for their 54th presentation of the Singing Christmas Tree.
This annual holiday tradition will be held Saturday, Dec. 3, with performances at noon and 5:30 p.m. CBC director Vic Oakes says the evening performance is scheduled a little earlier than usual to better accommodate families with small children.
The program’s theme will revolve around WRCB-TV weatherman Paul Barys’ reading of the classic poem, better known as “The Night Before Christmas,” with the boys “interrupting” him for musical interludes that highlight the prose.
“We have some cool and modern arrangements of traditional favorites ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful,’ ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,’ and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,'” says Oakes.
“There is also a Dan Forrest setting of ‘There Is Faint Music.’ It’s a beautiful carol that is a little more introspective, a gentle treatment of the Christmas story, that is a refreshing approach,” he adds.
In addition to modern interpretations of familiar carols, the choir will present classical literature as well. The choristers will perform movements from Camille Saint-Saens’ Christmas Oratorio that are technically impressive vocally.
Ballet Tennessee’s dancers will make four appearances during the holiday show. During the first act, an ensemble will dance to “O Holy Night,” choreographed by Hannah Locke. The company’s dancers will appear as angels in the Nativity that traditionally closes the first act. In the second act, Ballet Tennessee’s younger performers will tell a lighthearted story through a hip-hop dance, says Anna Van Cura, Ballet Tennessee founder.
The CSO Youth Orchestra is directed by Gary Wilkes. The Metropolitan Bells are directed by Gary Bynum. Those groups will join the ballet dancers and CBC singers for the grand finale.
“To see them all together will get your holiday started right,” says Oakes of the grand finale.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.