Members of the Island Bel Canto Singers are delighting audiences with Christmas cheer during their annual holiday concert this weekend.
The concert covers season favourites, which includes contemporary holiday hits such as Deck the Halls, O Holy Night and a humourous version of the Twelve Days of Christmas.
It will delve into classical songs such as Thou Must Leave Thy Lonely Dwelling and Mozart’s Vesperae Solennes de Confessore.
The Bel Canto nine-voice chamber ensemble makes its debut during the concerts.
The idea to create the ensemble began after the group participated in the international Choral Festival Kathaumixw held this summer in Powell River. Lionel Tanod, choral director, said the idea was to create a core group of singers who could perform challenging avant garde contemporary songs.
The group presents its concert series, On the First Day of Christmas, Saturday (Dec. 8) 2:30 p.m. at Departure Bay Baptist Church, located at 3510 Departure Bay Rd., and Sunday (Dec. 9) 7:30 p.m. at the Nanaimo Ecumenical Centre, located at 6234 Spartan Rd.
Tickets are $15, children under 12 are free, and are available at Fascinating Rhythm, The Quilted Duck Gift Cottage, www.island belcanto.com or at the door.