PICTOU COUNTY - Once again Pictou County’s Trinitarians choir and the Voicetime Studio Singers will join forces to present their annual Sing Joy! concert.
Sing Joy! – always associated with the first Sunday of Advent – will take place at 3 p.m. at Sharon St. John United Church, Stellarton, on Sunday, Dec. 3. Leading both choir groups and artistic director of Sing Joy is Monica George Punke. Sandra Johnson is the accompanist on organ and piano. Featured on bass is John MacLeod, and on percussion, Ian Grant.
Sing Joy! is always a blend of musical styles and periods. Beginning with the Canadian carol Jesous Ahatonhia arranged by Healey Willan, the program will feature the traditional French carol Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella, the Catalonian carol Fum, Fum, Fum and a selection of English carols all arranged by Sir David Willcocks.
The Voicetime Studio Singers will join the Trinitarians in several of the numbers on the program, but will also be featured on their own in songs including the Dutch Carol In Dulchi Jubilo arranged by John Rutter and the Sans Day Carol using a traditional Cornish melody and arranged by Malcolm Archer.
More contemporary selections will feature Rita MacNeil’s This Season Will Never Grow Old and Jingle Bell Rock, among several others.
Congregational carols and seasonal songs are always important in a Sing Joy concert as is the concluding number when all the singers join forces to present Mark Hayes’ arrangement of Christmas texts called Sing Joy!
Sing Joy! is also a blend of ages. From the very youngest of the choristers in the Voicetime Studio Singers to the more mature but young at heart of the Trinitarians, there is a span of at least 80 years. “Sing Joy! is intergenerational music-making at its very best,” says Punke.
Tickets are on sale now from local choir members, at H&R Music, New Glasgow, Pictou Pharmasave, Office of Sharon St. John United Church, or by calling 902-752-1297. Adults: $15, seniors: $12 and students: $7. Advanced ticket purchase is highly recommended for this concert.
