DEARBORN — Dearborn Community Chorus and Vanguard Voices will celebrate the season at the Dearborn Holiday Choral Festival at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave.
Reserved tickets, priced at $18, $15, $11, and $6 (students) are available at the Ford Center box office, which is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Call 313-943-2354 or go to www.dearborntheater.com.
Dearborn Community Chorus, directed by Marcus LaPratt, will perform seasonal selections featuring “Rock Him in the Manger” (Kirby Shaw), “Merry Christmas Jazz” (Tom Cunningham), and other favorites which feature soloists as well as harp and piano accompaniments.
Vanguard Voices, directed by G. Kevin Dewey, will present the world premieres of “Tread Softly” (Frank La Rocca) and “Garments of Grace” (Lawrence A. Wik), both commissioned for the Vanguard Premieres program, along with selections by Benjamin Britten, Gerald Custer, and Harold Darke.
The combined choirs, joined by Macomb Chorale and the Dearborn Symphony Chamber Orchestra, will perform Michigan composer and conductor Stuart Scott’s modern interpretation of Antonio Vivaldi’s “Gloria.” This revision incorporates styles from jazz waltz to Latin to swing while using a larger and more varied orchestration, including a rhythm section of piano, bass and drums.
Vanguard Male Chorus will sing carols in the lobby from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. Audience members also are invited to a punch and cookies reception immediately following the concert.
Dearborn Community Chorus and Vanguard Voices are sponsored by the Dearborn Recreation & Parks Department. The Holiday Choral Festival receives support from the Dearborn Community Fund.