Prepare to get in the Christmas mood while listening to some favourite Yuletide tunes and carols at Airdrie’s 2023 Singfest.
Roughly 100 choristers will hit the Bert Church Live Theatre stage on Dec 2 as part of the “Light Up Airdrie” events.
“We get together to kind of kick start the Christmas music season,” said Justin Makosky, the artistic director and conductor of the Airdrie Community Choir. “And the event is a fundraiser for the Airdrie 1st Club Food Hamper program.”
Singfest 2023 will feature 45 members of the Airdrie Community Choir, as well as choristers from Choral Waves Choir from Cochrane and the Cantares Latin Choir from Calgary.
Makosky said the event has been ongoing for many years and each choir will perform its own set of songs throughout the musical evening.
The night will feature a mixture of different Christmas pieces
Airdrie’s Community Choir has rehearsed four pieces for the evening, including two pop standards and two more traditional sacred texts, according to Makosky.
She is equally enthusiastic about the upcoming choral performances of the other groups taking part.
“The Cantares Latin Choir is always just a party and a half,” Makosky said. “ They have a really unique sound and often their music is in a different language, but they always have a really good time on stage.”
Choral Waves will feature similar styles as the Airdrie Community Choir, with three Christmas carols or sacred texts.
The grand finale of the concert will feature all choristers sharing the stage for a mass choir piece to really drive home the Christmas feelings.
Makosky said being able to offer a night of music that is in support of such a great organization and cause is really important for the Airdrie Community Choir.
“One of our fundamental goals throughout the years is to build community outreach,” he said. “Last year we had a record donation that we made to the Airdrie 1st Club and this year we're hoping to match it or beat it.”
This year, Singfest is a ticketed event with all the proceeds, after expenses, going to the Club’s hamper program.
Individuals are also invited to make additional cash donations at the door in support of Airdrie 1st Club.
The other thing that makes this evening special for Makosky is being able to get together with colleagues to spread the joy of Christmas through music.
“It's one of the highlights of our season and it's just great to be able to share that with the City of Airdrie and those who come from other places in Alberta to this concert,” Makosky said.
Makosky said the pieces performed at Singfest have been in the works since September, with each choir practicing their own set of music prior to one mass rehearsal on Dec. 2.
“This choir really is a family,” he said. “It is a group of people that comes together once a week. We've had our ups and downs and we were together all through COVID-19.”
The Choir welcomed some new members this year, and Makosky wants the public to know they are a strong organization which is all about community development.
“We're a loving and supportive space for those who like to sing, and people should be prepared to have a really good time and a really fun night [at Singfest],” he said.
