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Christmas concert marks 30 years for this women's choir

When Harmony Women’s Vocal Ensemble takes to the stage for its Christmas concert, it will be an extra-special occasion for six of its singers.

When Harmony Women’s Vocal Ensemble takes to the stage for its Christmas concert, it will be an extra-special occasion for six of its singers.

The 12-voice ensemble, based in Coquitlam, is winding up its 30th anniversary year with Nowell!, on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity United Church in Port Coquitlam.

“The concert will be our final performance of this anniversary season,” said Simone Josephson, founder and director of the choir, in a press release. “It will be special for all our singers, but especially for the six who have been in the choir since it began.”

The choir got started when a group of friends met in Josephson’s basement to talk about forming a female choral ensemble. The original members, mostly music teachers and educators who sang in other choirs, were excited about the idea and the choir started to rehearse. They drew in other members almost immediately – including current members who form the nucleus of Harmony’s 12-voice ensemble.

Josephson has a simple answer for the choir’s longevity and success.

“We love to sing. It’s as simple as that,” she said. “We enjoy each other’s company, and we have many shared experiences, but it’s more than that. And it always comes back to, we just love to sing.”

For the past 30 years, Harmony has performed countless concerts in the Tri-Cities area and beyond, evolving into one of the top community female choirs in the Lower Mainland.

For its upcoming Christmas concert on Dec. 8, Harmony joins forces with the Vancouver Orpheus Male Voice Choir, reuniting two groups that have previously performed together.

The concert will include choral standards, traditional carols, songs for younger audience members and a variety of contemporary carols and Christmas songs, along with a few surprises.

Orpheus will be joined by two student musicians from Langley: violinist Brooklyn Wood and cellist Daniel Lee.

The two ensembles will also join forces to sing as one choir.

Tickets for Nowell! are $25 regular, $22 for seniors, $12 for students and free for children under 12, available from 604-936-3289 or online at www.vancouverorpheus.org.

Trinity United Church is at 2211 Prairie Ave., Port Coquitlam.