A community choir in Maple Ridge is inviting the community to celebrate with them this Christmas season as they perform a concert titled My Favourite Things.
Maple Ridge Chorus will be presenting a collection of cherished Christmas classics – which won’t be announced until the day of the concert.
“Our new director loves Christmas and surprises, so the concert song list will remain wrapped until he opens the presents on Dec. 10,” explained second tenor on behalf of the choir, Kirk Brown.
“However, we can give hints,” Brown said.
The choir will sing three classic Christmas carols with modern, rich choral arrangements by American composer Dan Forrest. They will also sing a centuries-old carol and a contemporary pop song – both on the theme of a particular flower – and both intertwined for a lovely effect.
Another selection will be in memory of a stellar Canadian singer-songwriter who passed away last spring, Brown noted.
This will be the first concert with Maple Ridge Chorus for new choral director, Frank Zieginson, and accompanist, James Dekker.
Zieginson formed Songscape Duo with American mezzo-soprano, Madeline Miskie-Jaeger in August of 2014. He is also the founding member of the Ricordanza Trio and the founding and artistic director of the Ricordanza Summer Chamber Music Festival in Victoria, B.C..
According to the Phoenix Chamber Choir, who welcomed Zieginson as a production manager for their Christmas concert in 2020, Zieginson has played the piano since before he could walk and has four degrees in piano performance.
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Zieginson is also the minister of music at Lynn Valley United Church, and the artistic director of the Lynn Valley Voices and the Rainbow Chorus of New Westminster. He has a Master of Music: Collaborative Piano from University of Maryland, Master of Music: Solo Performance from Brandon University, Bachelor of Music: Piano Performance from the University of Lethbridge, and a Performance Diploma from Red Deer College.
Dekker, a music graduate from Capilano University, who has worked with Zieginson on a number of projects.
The choir’s annual Christmas concert will be performed at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10, at Christian Reformed Church, 20245 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance from choir members or at the door, cash or e-transfer only.
Admission is free for children aged 12 and under.
For more information go to: lovetosing.net/maple-ridge-chorus-2023-christmas-concert or to facebook.com/events/1004690120590297/?ref=newsfeed.
