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Orchestra and choir combine talents for Christmas Memories concert in Nanaimo

Two performances planned for the Port Theare on Saturday, Dec. 3
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Calvin Dyck will lead the Vancouver Island Symphony as the perform Christmas Memories along with the Island Consort Chamber Choir at Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on Dec. 3. (Submitted photo)

The Vancouver Island Symphony returns with one of its largest orchestras of the 2022-23 season for Christmas Memories, and it won’t be alone.

The symphony will be accompanied on the Port Theatre stage this December by the Island Consort Chamber Choir, as directed by Bruce Farquharson.

“We’re pulling from lots of fun traditions,” said Calvin Dyck, the orchestra’s guest conductor. “We’ll, of course, have some sing-along carols … There are also some surprises in the program … There may even be a snowball fight on stage.”

As the Christmas Memories performances on Dec. 3 will be the first presentation of the symphony and choir together, Dyck said he’s really looking forward to it.

“They’re one of the best local choirs we have.”

Given his experience, the conductor said he was was asked to arrange the program and plans for it to mirror what he’s done in Abbotsford for the past few decades.

Together, the choir and orchestra will perform the Christmas carol sing-along, as well as O Come All Ye Faithful, Joy to the World and the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah.

They will also team up for the show’s finale of O Holy Night, which Dyck described as “an epic arrangement for orchestra, choir and soloist.”

Christmas Memories will play at the Port Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 3 in two 75-minute shows; first at 5 p.m. and then again at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.porttheatre.com.

READ MORE: Vancouver Island Symphony’s season starts with performance led by artistic director candidate


mandy.moraes@nanaimobulletin.com

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Mandy Moraes

About the Author: Mandy Moraes

I joined Black Press Media in 2020 as a multimedia reporter for the Parksville Qualicum Beach News, and transferred to the News Bulletin in 2022
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