Coast Community Chorus Annual Christmas Concert Saturday, December 2, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. at the Gualala Arts Center

LocalEyes will present the Coast Community Chorus, directed by Carolyn Steinbuck and accompanied by Marion James, for their annual Christmas concert on Saturday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m. It will be performed again on Sunday, December 3 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Paul's Community United Methodist Church in Point Arena on the north side of Highway One.

Benjamin Britten's "A Ceremony of Carols" will be presented. The piece shows Britten's mastery of choral music, with each movement in contrast with the next. Britten was British and began composing prolifically as a child. His flawless technique, broad musical and human sympathies and ability to treat the most traditional of musical forms with freshness and originality places him near the head of composers of his generation.

Shorter pieces include W. A. Mozart's "Kyrie in D Minor." Mozart was Austrian and showed musical gifts at a very early age, astonishing audiences with his precocious skills, and writing and publishing his earliest symphonies on tour at the age of 7 years. He composed masses, symphonies, concertos, sonatas, serenades and divertimentos, dramatic music, dance music, and operas throughout his lifetime. Johannes Brahms, the composer of "Ave Maria," was German. He studied piano from the age of 3 and frequently participated in the performance of his own works, whether as soloist, accompanist, or participant in chamber music. He conducted choirs and orchestras and composed sonatas, cantatas, concertos, choral and chamber works, songs and symphonies, some with original rhythmic conceptions. He is considered one of the three great "B's" of German composers.

John Rutter is an English composer, choral conductor, editor, arranger and record producer, with many recordings of sacred choral pieces. His "Candlelight Carol" will be performed. His music is considered eclectic, and he has been called one of the world's greatest living composers and conductors of choral music. The audience may join the choir in concluding the performance with some well known Christmas carols.

The Coast Community Chorus is sponsored by Santa Rosa Junior College. Refreshments will be served. Admission is free, but donations will be graciously accepted at the door.

Please contact Carolyn Steinbuck at 707-877-3222 for more information.

The Gualala Arts Center is located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA. Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information.