One major casualty of the COVID-19 health restrictions this holiday season was the classic Christmas concerts that bring merriment and mirth to the North Shore each December.
With provincial health orders banning all events, there were no gatherings this year to celebrate the season. But that didn’t stop many of the North Shore’s choirs from joining their voices – virtually at least – to offer songs to uplift the soul this challenging Christmas season.
We’ve tracked down a few of these digital delights to show you what these talented folks have been able to put together from the comfort of their own homes.
Here’s a North Vancouver group called the SweetKeys doing a charming version of Like It’s Christmas, a jazzy tune by the Jonas Brothers.
The SweetKeys normally go carolling each Christmas to raise funds for Family Services of the North Shore. They can’t hold a hat out for donations this year, but the group is hoping that if their performance brought a smile to your face, you might consider hitting up the charity’s online donation page.
North Vancouver’s MomChoir, a choir made up of – yep, you guessed it – moms, couldn’t hold their annual Christmas concert this year, so they went digital as well, with one of their favourite tunes. Holiday Highjinx mashes eight Christmas classics into one power-packed five-minute song. Check it out here (and stay tuned for the cuteness from the kids at the end):
Ecole Argyle Secondary is also wishing the community some peace and calm over the holidays. Under choral director Frances Roberts, choristers from the Lynn Valley high school's concert, chamber and alumni choirs gathered virtually this year to sing Silent Night. The carol traditionally closes out Argyle's senior winter concert at majestic St. Andrews Wesley United Church in Vancouver, which of course didn't go ahead this year. Joining the Argyle seniors on the recording were graduates of the choral program from as early as 1990 as well as future grads. Have a listen here:
And here’s another, a link to the North Shore Chorus singing I’ll be Home For Christmas. It’s a fitting tune for 2020, as health restrictions saw us all celebrating Christmas in our own homes.
We may be physically distanced these days, but there is nowhere that the spirit of song can’t reach.
Happy holidays!
