Holiday Concerts

by Mike Corrigan


The Candlelight Christmas Concert at St. John's Cathedral -- brought to you by the fine folks at the Cathedral and the Arts -- has become something of a holiday tradition in Spokane. Traditional in the sense that it happens every year around this time - not in terms of the program, which is ever-changing. Executive Director Gertrude Harvey, along with the always surprising Music Director William Berry, have once again fashioned a Christmas concert glimmering with singular delights. This season's event features the broad talents of producer/composer/arranger Berry and the Clarion Brass Ensemble, the Cathedral Concert Choir with members of the Spokane Area Children's Chorus and Janet Satre Ahrend on organ. The program also includes the premier of Berry's Angels Cantata.





Saturday, Dec. 21, at 8 pm and Sunday, Dec. 22, at 4 and 8 pm * Tickets: $9-$18 * Call: 325-SEAT





The Candlelight Concert at St. Aloysius Cathedral on the Gonzaga University campus has been a rock-solid holiday tradition in Spokane for 116 consecutive years. The two concerts at St. Al's will be held on back-to-back nights and will feature the talents of the Gonzaga University Choir, the Men's Chorus, Women's Chorus and the GU Brass Ensemble.





Friday-Saturday, Dec. 13-14, at 8 pm * Tickets: $8-$12 * Call: 325-SEAT





Spokane's own British Brass Band may not actually be British (they're, um, from Spokane, you know), but they definitely sound that way. This local 30-piece brass and percussion ensemble meticulously reproduces in theme, makeup and execution the look, feel and, most significantly, the sound of a classic British-style brass band with a staggering array of conical brass instruments including cornets, flugel and tenor horns, English baritones, euphoniums, trombones and tubas. Under the direction of Conductor Mark Williams, the SBBB presents "Holiday Brassworks," a selection of classical works and swinging contemporary pieces tailored for your holiday pleasure -- all featuring the rich, mellow tones that are the brass band's signature.





Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 pm * Tickets: $8-$10 * SFCC


Auditorium Music Building * Call: 325-SEAT





How do you solve a problem like a case of the bah-humbugs during this season of good cheer? With a quad of Von Trapp children, naturally. Seriously. This year's Holiday Pops Concert, courtesy of the Spokane Symphony, the Spokane Symphony Chorale, the Spokane Area Children's Chorus and mezzo-soprano Karen Therese, will feature the vocal talents of the Von Trapp Children, the great-grandchildren of Col. Von Trapp of The Sound of Music fame. The evening's program will include a selection of traditional carols, Nutcracker highlights, contemporary favorites, a carol sing-a-long and even a visit from Santa.





Saturday, Dec. 14, at 8 pm, and Sunday, Dec. 15, at 2 pm * Tickets: $15-$37 * Spokane Opera House * Call: 325-SEAT