DANVILLE — The Vermilion Festival Chorus’s holiday program will be on Saturday.
The chorus will present its 2023 Holiday Program titled “Holiday Traditions and Christmas Jazz” at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 at St. James United Methodist Church in Danville.
Dave Schroeder, chorus director, said the concert is in two distinct parts.
“The first part is three sets of carols arranged by Mark Hayes, a fantastic choral arranger,” Schroeder said.
The carols are from Britain and Western and Eastern Europe on the different segments.
“These are all carols that will be familiar to people’s ears,” Schroeder said.
“How he’s arranged them out, he’s used some really creative arrangements,” Schroeder added.
The group has really added a spark to the sound of these pieces, he said.
There also will be several soloists.
The middle interlude will consist of accompanist Jill Prasse Smith on piano with “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” also arranged by Hayes.
“We’re so blessed to have her,” Schroeder said. “She’s just awesome on the piano.”
The third concert segment, the closing piece, will be Christmas Jazz.
There will be three carol arrangements in a jazz vocal style.
“It’s going to be a new direction that they haven’t ventured off to. They are enjoying it,” Schroeder said.
Those songs will be “Jingle Bells,” “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” and “Carol of the Bells.”
Admission at the door for Saturday’s concert is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and also students through high school age.
Entry into the church, 504 N. Vermilion St., Danville, is under the new portico on the north side of the church building.