There is much to sing about in the way of holiday performances in San Antonio this weekend. Scott MacPherson, the conductor and artistic director of the San Antonio Chamber Choir, details what they’re doing in their Holiday concerts.
"We are very lucky to be performing for the first time at San Fernando Cathedral," MacPherson said. "Our holiday concert is called Time for the Season! We have an invited guest choir from Judson High School under the direction of Kay Sherrill. It’s really wonderful to pair up our professional choir with a local high school group."
Does performing at the San Fernando Cathedral affect the singers?
"It’s an emotional thing, it’s a mental thing, and then it becomes a physical thing when we actually produce the sound in such a beautiful place," MacPherson said.
The San Antonio Chamber Choir’s been marking the centennial birth of Benjamin Britten by singing selections from his work at every performance. This one is no exception.
"We’re also singing his arrangement of the carol called 'The Holly and the Ivy,' which is a fun little sprightly setting for several soloists and the chorus," MacPherson said.
Their second performance is at St. John Lutheran Church downtown.
"It’s another beautiful architectural setting," MacPherson said. "They always have it decorated with a beautiful, large Christmas tree lit up, and it’s a great setting for a holiday program."
MacPherson said he thinks that the holidays have become way too hectic and has themed the performance around this concept:
"The idea of sitting back and taking the time to stop and smell the roses," he said.
Your chances to do so are Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday 3 p.m.
- Learn more about the Time for the Season! performances at: www.sachamberchoir.org
