Waimea Community Chorus presents 20th annual holiday concert

Variety and excitement will be the hallmarks of Waimea Community Chorus’ 20th annual Holiday Choral Concert Dec. 14 and 15 at Kahilu Theatre.

Directed by Barbara Kopra, the chorus has performed twice each year since 2010 at Waimea’s premiere performance space. Prior performances were held at the historic Parker School auditorium. Kopra contends Kahilu’s larger space and acoustics has enabled the group to present more ambitious concerts. The group has grown from about 30 to 35 voices in 2005 when she began her tenure as director, to 60 to 70 voices now.

This year’s holiday show will commence with Randol Alan Bass’ “Gloria!” and continue with a first half featuring traditional selections, but including music from Ireland, France and Africa, as well as several combinations of well-known pieces. Music from Maurice Ravel, Johann Pachelbel and Johann Sebastian Bach will be combined with traditional and ethnic rhythms.

The concert’s second half will be more lighthearted, and will include new looks at popular carols, as well as several amusing selections highlighting the more colorful aspects of the holiday season. Men’s and women’s numbers, in addition to small feature offerings, will lend variety to the performances.

The singers will be supported by an orchestra drawn from performers islandwide, many of whom regularly accompany the choral concerts, and will feature pianist Alex Czerny. The large corps of instrumentalists, which has become a staple of the group’s holiday shows, lends a depth and richness of sound that complements the singers.

The Dec. 14 performance will begin at 7:30 p.m., while the Dec. 15 matinee will have a curtain time of 3 p.m. Tickets are available in Waimea from both chorus members and from Waimea General Store and Without Boundaries. Suite Possibilities supplies tickets in the Kailua-Kona area, and tickets are sold at kahilutheatre.org. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, and $10 for children 10 and younger. An advance sale discount is available.

Directing the chorus since 2005, Kopra has an academic and practical background in music and voice, and serves as the performing arts instructor for Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s middle school. Her dedication to finding innovative programs for the group’s concerts has steadily expanded the quality and reach of the community-based choir, which remains open to general membership. Its spring season rehearsals are expected to begin Jan. 21.

For more information, visit the group’s Facebook pages, its website, waimeacommunitytheatre.org, or call 885-5818.