Charis Christmas Concert

Description

Charis Chamber Voices welcomes audiences back to celebrate the holidays with works ranging from the early Baroque to our own time. Charis’s return to live performances is also the pandemic-delayed debut of its new Artistic Director, Jeremy Wiggins. Two concerts are scheduled in area churches: on Saturday, December 11 at 4:00 p.m. at Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco, 605 Millwood Rd. (Rte. 133), Mt. Kisco, NY, and Sunday, December 12, at 4:00 p.m. at Bedford Presbyterian Church, Village Green, Bedford, NY. Charis is an auditioned chorus of about 30 men and women. Connecticut members include singers from Bethel, Fairfield, Ridgefield, Danbury, Stamford, New Fairfield, Burlington, and Brookfield. Founded in 1994, the group is renowned for its diverse repertoire, unique blend of voices and captivating performances. After an extensive search and audition process, Charis named Dr. Wiggins its Artistic Director in 2020 to succeed Arthur Sjögren, who retired after a long, celebrated conducting career. Wiggins is Assistant Professor of Music, Coordinator of Choral Activities and Graduate Studies, at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. He lives in Brookfield. The program includes Christmas works by the German Baroque masters Dietrich Buxtehude, Georg Philipp Telemann, and Heinrich Schütz; contemporary classics by John Tavener and others; and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ joyous Fantasia on Christmas Carols. In the tradition of Charis Christmas concerts, the audience will be invited to join in carol singing and there will be a wine and cheese reception after the concert. Tickets are $25 ($20 for seniors and $15 for students). They may be purchased in advance through the Charis website, www.charisvocals.com, or at the door. Note: Charis’s singers have all received Covid-19 vaccinations. Audience members will need to show proof of vaccination and to wear masks.