NEW GLASGOW – An annual tradition that brings together Pictou County artists for a night of Christmas tunes is bigger and better this year, Doris Mason said.
“A Christmas Serenade,” featuring Doris Mason and friends, will take place at Glasgow Square Saturday. Mason, a local musician who has toured the world as musical director for Drum, said she enjoys taking part in this concert each year because it means performing with family and friends.
“It’s a great chance for me to be home and I have a musical family so it’s a great chance to be with friends and family and celebrate the season,” she said. “I recorded a Christmas CD with my family called Christmas with the Masons. We’ll be performing songs from that. Even my mother recites ‘T’was the Night Before Christmas’ on the CD so everybody gets in the act.”
This is the third year the Christmas Serenade has taken place at Glasgow Square and Mason said this year’s show offers some new acts and new musical selections.
“We’ve got a great cross-section of talent from the county,” she said. “There’s a little bit of a change in performers this year. There will be some new material this year.”
Performing in the Serenade will be the Mason Sisters, the Alcorn family, Mary Stewart, The Wildkat Blues Band, the North Nova Jazz Choir and others. Mason said there will also be some surprise guests at the concert as well.
The different performers’ genres span from jazz and blues, to pop and gospel.
Mason said she personally enjoys performing Christmas songs because it’s a musical way to celebrate what the holidays mean for her.
“I think that it’s a great way to have the spirit and the meaning of Christmas come through in a musical way,” she said. “It’s a musical presence.”
Tickets for “A Christmas Serenade” are $15 each, $10 for students and seniors plus applicable fees. Tickets are available at the Glasgow Square Box Office, Big Al’s Convenience, through www.ticketpro.ca or call 1-888-311-9090. The show begins at 8 p.m. Saturday.
