PORT TOWNSEND — It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas on the North Olympic Peninsula.
To celebrate the season, the Community Chorus of Port Townsend and East Jefferson County will perform a holiday concert this evening with a second concert Sunday.
The concert, “Come to the Music,” begins at 7 tonight at First Presbyterian Church, 1111 Franklin St., Port Townsend, and at 3 p.m. Sunday at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 45 Redeemer Way, Chimacum.
Tickets are $15 and available online at www.brownpapertickets.com, in person at Crossroads Music, 2100 Lawrence St., Port Townsend, or at the door of the concert.
Returning to the chorus for the December concerts is Diane Perry Thompson, a longtime piano accompanist for the group. The concert also will include an ensemble of musicians including percussion, clarinet, string bass, violin and piccolo.
Also joining the adult singers for a special appearance are a group of second-graders from Chimacum Creek Primary.
Tina Grewell, chorus guest director for the fall season, said she chose pieces that work together to create stimulating, thought-provoking and exciting concerts.
“Since I have not directed or sung in the area for the past 30-plus years, I was free to choose my seasonal favorites from the archives of my musical life,” she said.
Grewell compared the program to a Thanksgiving dinner, saying “everything tastes good on its own, and it also tastes good together.”
The choir will sing standards such as “Jingle Bells,” “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “Winter Wonderland” and “White Christmas,” as well as lesser known pieces such as “Believe,” the signature score from the film “The Polar Express,” which tells the story of a young boy who boards a train bound for the North Pole on Christmas Eve.
Grewell grew up in Jefferson County as Tina Moore, daughter of Dick and Patti Shuff, graduating from Chimacum High School, according to a news release.
She is now the elementary music teacher at Chimacum Creek Primary.
“I still can’t believe that I get to live and work where I grew up,” she said.
“Being the newbie in an established group is always interesting, but this choir has welcomed me with open arms and has allowed me to conduct with my own style.”
Atkins said that the chorus brings together singers of all ages and skill levels.
More experienced singers support novices and the chorus offers extra support in learning the music so that everyone feels confident by performance time, she said.
“The generosity of spirit and support for learning the music is what keeps me coming back,” Atkins said.
“We work hard to learn and sound our best, and it’s worth it.”
After the early challenges of learning a new piece of music, “It’s always amazing when a program comes together,” Atkins said.
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Features Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at cmcdaniel@ peninsuladailynews.com.
