Holiday concerts galore in Vancouver

If the short days and long nights of December are certain to give you a case of seasonal blahs, you might consider elevating your spirits by attending a concert. Holiday music can be like comfort food for the ears, and a cornucopia of musical organizations is stocked up for the season. So don’t pass up the opportunity to sample a music event. You’ll be glad that you did.

To start things off, in anticipation of Christmas, you might consider a concert of Advent music at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. The Ensemble, a select group of some of the best professional singers in the Northwest, will offer sacred works by German Lutheran composers of the early and late Baroque period. Accompanied by a chamber orchestra and directed by Patrick McDonough, The Ensemble will present two cantatas by J.S. Bach and two works by Dietrich Buxtehude and Heinrich Schütz. The Bach cantatas are about 20 minutes each, and the other pieces are much shorter. All of the works will be sung in German or Latin.

Another Baroque concert that looks forward to Christmas Day will be offered by the In Mulieribus ensemble at the Proto-Cathedral of St. James. Don’t let the name scare you. In Mulieribu is Latin for “amongst women” and consists of some of the finest sopranos and altos in the Portland-Vancouver area. Their program will explore music inspired by the O antiphons of Advent, a series of seven ancient antiphons designated for Vespers during the last seven days before Christmas. Each text, inspired by the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, begins with “O,” such as “O Wisdom,” “O Root of Jesse,” and “O Key of David.” Also featured are thematically related works by Hildegard of Bingen, Orlande de Lassus, Josquin des Prez, John Taverner, Hans Leo Hassler, Jacob Handl, and the contemporary Norwegian composer Wolfgang Plagge.

If you are looking for cozy Christmas carols and the chance to sing along, the Pacific Arts Ensemble will give two Christmas concerts with the theme “Do you hear what I hear?” The choir, under the direction of Tony Bump, will present traditional pieces and original music at Vancouver Heights United Methodist Church.

The Vancouver USA Singers will perform two concerts at First Presbyterian Church centered on Benjamin Britten’s modern masterpiece “A Ceremony of Carols” with harpist Kate Patek. Jana Hart will also conduct the 100-voice choir in a variety of works, including “For Unto Us a Child is Born” from Handel’s “Messiah,” “Silent Night,” Moses Hogan’s “Glory, Glory to the New Born King,” Eric Whitacre’s “Lux Arumque,” and Ola Gjeilo’s “Serenity,” which will feature cellist Britta Horlings. The Battle Ground High School Jazz Choir will also make a special appearance.

The Portland Ensign Choir and Orchestra will give two presentations of “Home for Christmas” at the Skyview High School Concert Hall. Featuring 105 voices in the adult choir, 35 voices in the children’s choir, a handbell choir of 20, and an orchestra of 40, this concert will offer traditional pieces and an audience sing-along. Vocalist Courtney Atack is the guest soloist and the Fired Up Dance Academy will perform the “12 Days of Christmas.” Conducting duties will be split between David Thomas and Edward Higgins.

If you would like to experience pageantry, you might want to attend the 42nd Annual Christmas Program at Vancouver Church (First Church of God). This year, the congregation will present “Simple Christmas,” a retelling of the Christmas story through song and drama. About 20 minutes before each show, you can listen to live music from the Jim Fischer Band.

If you want to hear a young chamber ensemble, you might try the Junior Symphony of Vancouver. Led by Collin Heade, the youngsters will play William Hoseldt’s “Palmetto Suite,” Colin Muset’s “When I See Winter Return,” Arcangelo Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto,” and Percy Grainger’s “Sussex Mummers Christmas Carol.” Bring your sweet tooth because a delicious dessert buffet is included in the price of the ticket to this concert.

Russian flair

The Clark College Concert Band and Concert Choir will present their annual holiday concert at O’Connell Gym. Entitled “From Tchaikovsky to Toboggans,” this program will have a distinctly Russian flair. The choir, directed by April Duvic, will open the first half of the program with a selection of pieces that include Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Bogoroditse Devo” and Craig Courtney’s “Ukrainian Alleluia.” The Concert Band, directed by Richard Inouye, will play several works, including Alfred Reed’s “Russian Christmas” and Stan Appelbaum’s “Toboggan Ride.”

Conductor and Music Director Maria Manzo conducts the 50-voice Bravo! Vancouver Chorale, Washington Chamber Orchestra and soloists in a performance of Handel’s “Messiah.” The soloists are soprano Jocelyn Claire Thomas, alto Valery Saul, tenor Scot Crandal, and bass Douglas Webster. Webster has sung the role of Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables” on Broadway, and is featured in the Grammy-nominated recording “A Disney Spectacular” with Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops.

If you want to swing into Christmas, be sure to check out the Big Horn Brass Holiday Show at Lloyd Auditorium. Sponsored by the Vancouver Symphony, the Big Horn Brass ensemble, with special guest vocalist Shirley Nanette, will put its big band sound into traditional carols and popular standards, such as Stevie Wonder’s “Someday at Christmas.” The ensemble will also perform a new musical adaptation of Clement Moore’s classic poem “The Night Before Christmas,” composed by Anthony DiLorenzo and narrated by Shirley Nanette. A video of the story, prepared by 4 Paws Video and featuring the illustrations of Cheryl Harness, will accompany the musical tale.

Holiday concerts

The Ensemble: German Advent

o Where: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 426 E. 4th Plain Blvd., Vancouver.

o When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6.

o Cost: $20 adult, $15 senior, $10 student.

o Website

In Mulieribus: The O Antiphons

o Where: Proto-Cathedral of St. James, 218 W. 12th St., Vancouver.

o When: 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21.

o Cost: $25 premium seating, $20 general, $15 students/ seniors (www.boxofficetickets.com or at the door)

o Information: 503-283-2913 or group’s website.

Pacific Arts Ensemble

o Where: Vancouver Heights United Methodist Church, 5701 MacArthur Blvd., Vancouver.

o When: 7:30 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6.

o Cost: No admission charge; donations accepted.

o Information: 360-213-5174 or Pacific Stageworks website.

The Vancouver USA Singers: A Ceremony of Carols

o Where: First Presbyterian Church, 4300 Main St., Vancouver.

o When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14.

o Cost: $20 at the door, $17 online, children under 12 are admitted free.

o Group’s website.

Portland Ensign Choir and Orchestra: Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child

o Where: Skyview High School Concert Hall, 1300 N.W. 139th St., Vancouver.

o When 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13.

o Cost: Premier $20, standard $18, economy $15.

o Information: 503-974-4339 or the group’s website.

Simple Christmas

o Where: Vancouver Church (First Church of God), 3300 N.E. 78th St., Vancouver.

o When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10 and Friday, Dec. 12; 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 and Sunday, Dec. 14.

o Cost: No admission charge; canned goods accepted for food pantry.

o Information: 360-574-1611 or church website.

Junior Symphony of Vancouver

o Where: Water Resource Education Center, 4600 S.E. Columbia Way, Vancouver.

o When: 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14.

o Cost: $20 at the door, which includes dessert buffet.

o Information: 360-696-4084 or group website.

Clark College Concert Band and Concert Choir

o Where: O’Connell Gym, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver.

o When: 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7.

o Cost: No admission charge.

o Information: 360-992-2662 or clark.edu

Bravo! Vancouver Messiah

o Where: Chapel at Crossroads Community Church, 7708 N.E. 78th St., Vancouver.

o When: 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7.

o Cost: General admission $25.

o Information: 360-906-0441 or group’s website.

Big Horn Brass with Shirley Nanette

o Where: Lloyd Auditorium at Washington School for the Deaf, 611 Grand Blvd., Vancouver.

o When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13.

o Cost: $25 for adults and $10 for students.

o Information: 360-735-7278 or Vancouver Symphony website.