Songs Strings and Steps presents its 10th annual Christmas extravaganza on Friday, Dec. 19 and Saturday, Dec. 20 in Abbotsford.
Christmas through Time, directed by Calvin Dyck, features the talents of the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra (AYO), the Fraser Valley Academy of Dance (FVAD), local actors, dancers and a men’s choral ensemble.
Also featured are the Victoria Brass, world musician Boris Sichon, soprano Melanie Krueger and pianist Mel Bowker.
Sichon will perform on the Duduk (Armenian flute) with a costume that looks like it’s from the first century, and the Victoria Brass and tenor Ken Lavigne – who sings at the Sydney Opera House in 2015 – lead the audience in Joy to the World and Hark the Herald.
Krueger sings Let the Bright Seraphim, and the AYO presents a choreographed Syncopated Clock.
Bowker joins Dyck, who keeps time with his baton and violin, for Silver Bells, and the FVAD performs a scene from The Nutcracker.
Also included is the recitation of “Clearly,” a new poem by Alvin Ens.
Traditional sing-along carols, a retelling of the real Christmas Story, and a full-cast presentation of O Holy Night round out the production.
The production takes place at 7 p.m. on Dec. 19 and at 2 and 7 p.m. on Dec. 20 at Central Heights Church,1661 McCallum Rd.
Tickets are $29, $25 and $15 and are available at House of James and King’s Music.