Easton Choral Arts Society's Christmas Around the World

Easton Choral Arts Society (ECAS) has announced its Christmas Concert, “Christmas Around the World,” to be held on Thursday, December 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 11 at 4:00 p.m. at Christ Church Easton.

Under the baton of our new Artistic Director Alexis Ward, ECAS will provide Christmas with both new and familiar songs to warm your heart and begin your Christmas season. The magic of Christmas from around the world will be captured in exciting Christmas music from Europe and America. Included are long-time favorites like “We Need a Little Christmas,” “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” and a choral telling of “The Night Before Christmas” poem by Clement Moore, complete with illustrations on two large TV screens.

A portion of the concert will remind guests that Christmas is celebrated in many places and many languages around the world. This includes the earliest versions of "Stille Nacht" (Silent Night), the Austrian carol that turned from obscurity to a major classic, along with "Twas in the Moon of Wintertime" – one of the oldest Christmas songs of Canada which tells the Christmas story through the eyes of the indigenous Huron people. Also included will be a traditional carol from Catalonia in Spain, “Fum, Fum, Fum,” and the haunting Catalonian work, “El Cant dels Ocells” (Carol of the Birds) by Chris de Silva. “Brightest and Best,” in the American Shaker tradition, will feature a lively bluegrass-style fiddle solo, and “Hurry Now to Bethlehem” presents a new spiritual for guests. Pianist Becky Zinser will be joined by diverse instrumentalists playing strings, oboe, and flute. The choristers will close the program with “Christmas Day,” the rousing medley of Christmas songs by Gustav Holst.

“I am both thrilled and honored to now serve at the helm of this excellent concert program. It includes not only holiday favorites but some stunningly gorgeous, lesser-known carols as well. Paired with a professional instrumental ensemble and the beautiful acoustics of Christ Church, our singers’ voices will truly soar and touch the hearts of many that weekend. Join us to jump-start your holiday season,” says Alexis Ward, Artistic Director of the Easton Choral Arts Society.

Tickets for each concert are $25 a person. Students are free with a reservation. Tickets can be purchased at eastonchoralarts.org or phone the ticket hotline at 410-200-0498.

Easton Choral Arts Society, Inc. is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization funded in part by the Maryland State Arts Council, Talbot Arts, and the Mid-Shore Community Foundation.