Music is an integral part of the holiday season. Much like baking cookies or visiting friends and loved ones, it brings people together in celebration and cheer.
Jason Rearick / The Citizen
Christmas songs dominate weekend's local entertainment.
Christmas songs dominate weekend's local entertainment.
Throughout the region this weekend, singers and musicians will mark the season with performances of sacred and secular songs. A children's chorus, church choirs and a chamber orchestra will all perform as part of music for the holiday season.
Tonight, children from St. Joseph School will perform a choral concert of Christmas music from the last two centuries at 7 p.m. at St. Alphonsus Church in Auburn. Included will be African-American spirituals, an Irish carol and a German lullaby.
The students, who have been practicing since October, will sing the spirituals “Child of God,” “Go Tell It on the Mountain” and “Rise Up, Shepherd.”
“These beautiful, highly expressive religious songs had an enormous impact on the development of American music,” said music teacher Carol Hindenlang. “Blues, ragtime, jazz and rock all grew from the music of African-American spirituals.”
The music challenges students mentally, physically and spiritually, she said.
“Many of our students understand singing as a gift they give back to God,” she said. “This is especially important to them at Christmas time.”
A celebration of the birth of Christ also will take place Sunday when the Southern Cayuga Community Choir presents its 24th annual Christmas concert at churches in King Ferry and Genoa. The concert will tell the Christmas story in words and song.
“It's very peppy,” said director Judy Davis. “I tried to pick out something that the audience is going to get into.”
Davis said the theme is choices, including Joseph's decision to stand by Mary.
“He had a choice, but he chose to stick with her,” she said. “Either you choose Christ to be your Lord and Savior, or you don't.”
Greg Wesley of King Ferry will narrate. Connie Wilbur of Genoa will accompany the choir on piano and organ.
A “living Christmas tree” will be featured at concerts on Friday and Sunday at the Second Baptist Church in Auburn.
Choir members will be enfolded in tree greens to sing the program “Emmanuel Has Come.”
“It's very uplifting,” said Helen Mack, choir director. “It walks through the baby in the manger, the shepherds, the wise men up to the baby becoming the Savior of the world.”
The 60-member choir, accompanied by trumpets, piano and organ, will sing traditional carols along with other Christmas-related music. The performance concludes with the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel's “Messiah.”
“That's one so many people do look forward to,” Mack said.
At Westminster Church Sunday the Syracuse Vocal Ensemble will present a choral concert titled “A 17th Century Christmas Pie.” The ensemble will present songs from the Baroque period.
The ensemble, under the direction of Robert Cowles, a professor of music at Hobart and William Smith College in Geneva, is comprised of singers from across central New York.
“This is the first time we've had this particular group perform here,” said Jill Fandrich, a church elder. “They've never been in Auburn before.”
Following the concert, there will be a pie-sampling reception, an event the ensemble traditionally holds with this concert. The pies are provided by the ensemble, whose members each bring two pies.
Also on Sunday, the MasterWorks Chorale will perform its annual Christmas concert at St. Mary's of the Lake in Skaneateles. Included will be traditional Christmas carols and other Christmas-themed music.
Also, the Casey Park Elementary School Select Choir of Auburn will be featured and a donation to the community church food pantry can be made at this event.
In Jordan, there will be an organ recital and sing-a-long with A. Hawley Arnold at the Jordan United Methodist Church on Sunday. Arnold, the church's organist, will play religious and secular carols for singing, along with organ solos that include an arrangement of “Greensleeves,” a “Holy Night” medley and “Nativity Miniatures,” a suite for organ.
“It should be a nice afternoon of music for the entire family,” Arnold said.
In Ithaca on Sunday, the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra will perform “Caroling by Candlelight,” featuring a collection of traditional Christmas songs.
“The theme this year is holidays from around the world,” said Sheila Ossit, the orchestra's managing director.
The orchestra's brass quintet will perform, accompanied by the Ithaca Children's Choir and guest artists that include soprano Deborah Montgomery, a professor at Ithaca College. Santa Claus also is slated to come.
“It's quite a family event,” Ossit said.
If you go
What: St. Joseph School choir sings Christmas music
When: 7 tonight
Where: St. Alphonsus Church, 89 E. Genesee St., Auburn
Cost: Free
What: “Emmanuel Has Come” concert with living Christmas tree
When: 7 p.m. Friday and Sunday
Where: Second Baptist Church, 1 N. Herman Ave., Auburn
Cost: Free
What: Syracuse Vocal Ensemble concert and pie sampling reception
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 17 William St., Auburn
Cost: $15; seniors and students, $12
What: Southern Cayuga
Community Choir 24th
annual Christmas concert
When: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, at Our Lady of the Lake Church, Route 90, King Ferry; and 7 p.m. Sunday, at the United Church of Genoa, Route 90
Cost: Free
What: MasterWorks Chorale Christmas concert
When: 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: St. Mary's of the Lake, Skaneateles
Cost: $8; $6 seniors and students; $30 family cap
What: Christmas organ recital
When: 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: Jordan United Methodist Church
Cost: Free
What: Holiday entertainment at the Fingerlakes Mall
- Natalie Pearl, 2 p.m. Saturday
- Auburn Civic Band, 7:30 p.m. Monday
- Herman Ave. School Chorus, beginning at 2:45 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday (caroling through the mall)
- Port Byron Middle School Choir, 11:30 a.m. Wednesday
What: “Caroling by Candlelight” with the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra
When: 5 p.m. Sunday
Where: First Presbyterian Church (corner of Court and Cayuga streets), Ithaca
Cost: Adults, $12; children, $5
For tickets: Call (607) 273-4497
Tonight, children from St. Joseph School will perform a choral concert of Christmas music from the last two centuries at 7 p.m. at St. Alphonsus Church in Auburn. Included will be African-American spirituals, an Irish carol and a German lullaby.
The students, who have been practicing since October, will sing the spirituals “Child of God,” “Go Tell It on the Mountain” and “Rise Up, Shepherd.”
“These beautiful, highly expressive religious songs had an enormous impact on the development of American music,” said music teacher Carol Hindenlang. “Blues, ragtime, jazz and rock all grew from the music of African-American spirituals.”
The music challenges students mentally, physically and spiritually, she said.
“Many of our students understand singing as a gift they give back to God,” she said. “This is especially important to them at Christmas time.”
A celebration of the birth of Christ also will take place Sunday when the Southern Cayuga Community Choir presents its 24th annual Christmas concert at churches in King Ferry and Genoa. The concert will tell the Christmas story in words and song.
“It's very peppy,” said director Judy Davis. “I tried to pick out something that the audience is going to get into.”
Davis said the theme is choices, including Joseph's decision to stand by Mary.
“He had a choice, but he chose to stick with her,” she said. “Either you choose Christ to be your Lord and Savior, or you don't.”
Greg Wesley of King Ferry will narrate. Connie Wilbur of Genoa will accompany the choir on piano and organ.
A “living Christmas tree” will be featured at concerts on Friday and Sunday at the Second Baptist Church in Auburn.
Choir members will be enfolded in tree greens to sing the program “Emmanuel Has Come.”
“It's very uplifting,” said Helen Mack, choir director. “It walks through the baby in the manger, the shepherds, the wise men up to the baby becoming the Savior of the world.”
The 60-member choir, accompanied by trumpets, piano and organ, will sing traditional carols along with other Christmas-related music. The performance concludes with the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel's “Messiah.”
“That's one so many people do look forward to,” Mack said.
At Westminster Church Sunday the Syracuse Vocal Ensemble will present a choral concert titled “A 17th Century Christmas Pie.” The ensemble will present songs from the Baroque period.
The ensemble, under the direction of Robert Cowles, a professor of music at Hobart and William Smith College in Geneva, is comprised of singers from across central New York.
“This is the first time we've had this particular group perform here,” said Jill Fandrich, a church elder. “They've never been in Auburn before.”
Following the concert, there will be a pie-sampling reception, an event the ensemble traditionally holds with this concert. The pies are provided by the ensemble, whose members each bring two pies.
Also on Sunday, the MasterWorks Chorale will perform its annual Christmas concert at St. Mary's of the Lake in Skaneateles. Included will be traditional Christmas carols and other Christmas-themed music.
Also, the Casey Park Elementary School Select Choir of Auburn will be featured and a donation to the community church food pantry can be made at this event.
In Jordan, there will be an organ recital and sing-a-long with A. Hawley Arnold at the Jordan United Methodist Church on Sunday. Arnold, the church's organist, will play religious and secular carols for singing, along with organ solos that include an arrangement of “Greensleeves,” a “Holy Night” medley and “Nativity Miniatures,” a suite for organ.
“It should be a nice afternoon of music for the entire family,” Arnold said.
In Ithaca on Sunday, the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra will perform “Caroling by Candlelight,” featuring a collection of traditional Christmas songs.
“The theme this year is holidays from around the world,” said Sheila Ossit, the orchestra's managing director.
The orchestra's brass quintet will perform, accompanied by the Ithaca Children's Choir and guest artists that include soprano Deborah Montgomery, a professor at Ithaca College. Santa Claus also is slated to come.
“It's quite a family event,” Ossit said.
If you go
What: St. Joseph School choir sings Christmas music
When: 7 tonight
Where: St. Alphonsus Church, 89 E. Genesee St., Auburn
Cost: Free
What: “Emmanuel Has Come” concert with living Christmas tree
When: 7 p.m. Friday and Sunday
Where: Second Baptist Church, 1 N. Herman Ave., Auburn
Cost: Free
What: Syracuse Vocal Ensemble concert and pie sampling reception
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 17 William St., Auburn
Cost: $15; seniors and students, $12
What: Southern Cayuga
Community Choir 24th
annual Christmas concert
When: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, at Our Lady of the Lake Church, Route 90, King Ferry; and 7 p.m. Sunday, at the United Church of Genoa, Route 90
Cost: Free
What: MasterWorks Chorale Christmas concert
When: 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: St. Mary's of the Lake, Skaneateles
Cost: $8; $6 seniors and students; $30 family cap
What: Christmas organ recital
When: 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: Jordan United Methodist Church
Cost: Free
What: Holiday entertainment at the Fingerlakes Mall
- Natalie Pearl, 2 p.m. Saturday
- Auburn Civic Band, 7:30 p.m. Monday
- Herman Ave. School Chorus, beginning at 2:45 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday (caroling through the mall)
- Port Byron Middle School Choir, 11:30 a.m. Wednesday
What: “Caroling by Candlelight” with the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra
When: 5 p.m. Sunday
Where: First Presbyterian Church (corner of Court and Cayuga streets), Ithaca
Cost: Adults, $12; children, $5
For tickets: Call (607) 273-4497
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