by Noella Noelophile®
C’mon. You know you want to sing along. Who wouldn’t?
But most Christmas concerts don’t give you that opportunity, when they perform Handel’s Messiah’s “Hallelujah Chorus”.
Which is one more reason, besides fantastic music and a great message, why you might like to attend the West Coast Singers’ Christmas concert this weekend.
The West Coast Singers are the LGBTQ+ Chorus of Los Angeles.. Their 2018 concert is themed, “When We’re Together: Songs for the Holiday”, and they’ll be giving three performances, this Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2.
And the program focuses on what brings us together during the Christmas season: joy, peace, family, pride and love.
(Poster courtesy of West Coast Singers, and used with permission.)
The West Coast Singers, emails soprano Michelle Sekine, are the third-oldest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, mixed-voice chorus in the nation.
Michelle was kind enough to share the group’s mission statement, which reads, “The chorus consists of lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and heterosexual men and women who enjoy singing and the camaraderie of a community chorus. The chorus strives to achieve musical excellence and entertain audiences, as well as promote understanding, healing and cooperation within the greater Los Angeles community. “
While I haven’t had the pleasure of hearing the West Coast Singers perform live (yet), the YouTube video of them singing our National Anthem will give you chills! They make it look easy–even though that’s one of the most difficult songs to sing, due to its wide range. (And they sing it a cappella!) Then, there are the videos featuring GloZell Green–showcasing the group’s sense of humor and spirit of fun.
So–here’s your chance to let them get you into the holiday spirit.
At 3;00 Saturday afternoon, December 1, the West Coast Singers’ first performance is a family-oriented, shorter matinee version of their annual Christmastime concert, at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre in Los Angeles. Children ages five and under are admitted free. Expect to hear lots of holiday favorites–and to get a chance to show your festive spirit, during the “Hallelujah Chorus” singalong.
Then, that evening, there’s a full concert at eight. At 3:00 on Sunday afternoon, December 2, they’ll perform a full matinee. And in addition to the concert, they’ll be offering snacks, a raffle, and hand-crafted cocktails for over-21 attendees.
“Our chorus has been around for many years, and this concert is one of our annual signature events,” emails Chorus President Sanie Andres. Sanie also shared that the West Coast Singers celebrated their 35th anniversary in October!
Happy Anniversary, West Coast Singers! Hope you have a fantastic Christmas season.
The West Coast Singers will give three performances of their Winter Concert, “When We’re Together: Songs for the Holiday”, this Saturday and Sunday, December 1 and 2 at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, 4800 Hollywood Boulevard, west of North Vermont Avenue. Here’s the link for more information.