A sparkling winter sky echoing with familiar carols, folk tunes and spirituals will delight the entire family when Kirkland Choral Society brings its Holiday Concert, “Songs of Starlight,” to Bastyr University Chapel at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9, and to First United Methodist Church in Seattle the preceding Friday evening, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m.
Under Artistic Director Dr. Glenn Gregg, KCS will offer a unique holiday celebration in which every musical selection refers to “starlight.” The program takes listeners on a journey through the cycle of a day, with the first half dedicated to “morning stars”—such as J.S. Bach’s “How Brightly Shines the Morning Star,” and “Ola Gjeilo’s Sunrise Mass” — and the second half to “evening stars” including a tender arrangement of “All Through the Night” for women’s voices (Felicia Sandler); the heartwarming, “Cover Me with the Night,” (Andrea Ramsey) for men’s choir; and Pacific NW native, Morten Lauridsen’s, soul-stirring, “Sure on this Shining Night.” The audience will join the choir in linking earth and the starry heavens in the soaring melody, “Oh Holy Night, the Stars Are Brightly Shining.”
Bastyr Chapel is located at 14500 Juanita Drive, Kenmore. First United Methodist Church is on 180 Denny Way in Seattle. Tickets are available at 425-296-0612 or www.kirklandchoralsociety.org.
