Christmas with Arcady, a new performance of festive holiday music, is shaping up to be the biggest performance in the Brantford-based ensemble’s history
“For the first time, Arcady will be presenting their Christmas concert with a full, 32-member orchestra and chorus,” said Emma Verdonk, assistant to Arcady director Ron Beckett.
“The energy and charm of the Arcady Youth Singers will add an extra glitter to the performance as they will be featured in both new and well-loved pieces.”
Christmas with Arcady will be performed at 7:30 pm on Nov. 26 at St. Andrew’s United Church, 95 Darling St., Brantford.
Tickets are $30 for adults and $12 for youth under 18. They are available online at arcady.ca/buy-tickets/ or by calling 519-428-3185.
The concert will feature the Arcady premiere of Beckett’s Christmas Symphony, a montage of well-known tunes woven together in a grand two-movement work.
Newly orchestrated versions of festive favorites Joy to the World, In Dulci Jubilo, and Good King Wenceslas will also be performed, along with new music from an array of composers, Verdonk, Shawn Oakes and John Van Maanen.
With funding from RBC, Arcady takes on a handful of emerging artists – young musicians in university or who have just graduated but have yet to become professional musicians – for a year-long program that helps them build a career in music.
Verdonk, who is a past emerging artist, noted that much of the concert will be conducted by Marie-Claire Cardinal of Quebec City, who is one of the current emerging artists. Cardinal is also a violinist.
Soloists in the program include soprano Vivien Illion, another current emerging artist and recent graduate of the Glenn Gould School of Music, and mezzo-soprano Nicole Foley.
Arcady was established to provide young musicians a bridge between their student and professional performing careers. Singers and instrumentalists make up the touring Arcady ensemble, directed by Beckett.
Arcady will perform Handel’s Messiah on Dec. 3, 7:30 pm, at the Lighthouse Festival Theater in Port Dover.
Tickets cost $40.
They are available at the theater box office at 247 Main St., online at lighthousetheatre.com/event/handels-messiah/ or by calling 1-888-779-7703 toll free.