Chamber Singers of Southeast Iowa to perform holiday concert Dec. 9-10

FAIRFIELD – The Chamber Singers of Southeast Iowa will perform their annual holiday concert on Dec. 9-10 at 7:30 p.m. both nights in the Golden Magnolia Sanctuary in Fairfield.

This year’s program includes a variety of festive carols in contemporary arrangements, Renaissance masterworks of polyphony, and new holiday compositions. The songs come from different cultures and time periods, with eight countries and seven centuries represented, all contributing their unique musical styles. In addition to a cappella works, several pieces are accompanied by piano, organ, flute, and/or viola da gamba, with an instrumental interlude to complement the choral program as well.

“Every season, we look forward to bringing joy and upliftment to our wonderful community through these holiday concerts,” said Elaine Reding, music director of the Chamber Singers. “The beautiful songs in this program invite both inner happiness and outer celebration, enlivening the holiday spirit. We can’t wait to share them with everyone!”

Reding said the theme of this year’s holiday concert is “upliftment and joy.” Per custom, the choir will be singing songs from around the world and in multiple languages. This concert will feature carols from England, Wales, Estonia, Sweden and Austria.

“We’ll be doing contemporary arrangements of those traditional carols, too,” Reding said.

Reding said she spends a lot of time selecting music for her group. She selects music based on what she believes the audience needs to hear at that moment.

“Sometimes I think people are carrying a lot emotionally in their lives,” she said. “And we’re bringing joy and upliftment. We want everyone to feel the holiday season cheer. This is what we want, to bring joy and camaraderie, and to bring happiness to everyone. That is what the holiday season is about, and we use the music to help unfold that.”

Twenty-five people sing in the choir, and once again they will be accompanied by three instrumentalists. That trio consists of Paul Skevington on organ and piano, flutist Karen Aoki Kouider, and Rosalind Stowe on the viola da gamba. These are the same three instrumentalists who accompanied the singers at their spring concert in May. They will also perform their own pieces while the choir is taking a break for the interlude.

Tickets are $10 at the door. For more information, call 641-472-1539.

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com