Maybe the Grinch stole Christmas in the story they perform each year, but there's a lot of good cheer in Nove Voce's world these days.
The Prince George choir just received a gift from across the ocean that no green curmudgeon could ever sneak out of their stocking. Thanks to their second place win in the 2018 National Music Festival earlier this year, they qualified to apply for the Grand Prix of Nations at the European Choir Games in Gothenberg, Sweden. Choir director Robin Norman was just informed that they had been accepted into that rare showcase.
"Sweden is an incredible opportunity," said Norman.
That competition will be August 3-10 in 2019. They will compete in the Folk A Capella and Chamber Choirs categories.
Local audiences can see them much sooner and closer than that. Almost like a holiday celebration of their international spotlight, the group gets to perform their most popular show, their annual presentation of How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
"Richard Bjarnason will be joining Nove Voce to read the original story as the choir performs songs from the cartoon and movie," said Norman. "We have some wonderfully, awful Grinchy costumes made by Pat Jorgensen, great music based on the Dr. Seuss cartoon and even our own dog Max. Come on out and enjoy your favorite Grinch Songs like You're a Mean One Mister Grinch, Where are you Christmas and Welcome Christmas. The show is a half-hour long, so it is perfect for audiences of all ages."
Nove Voce performs the Grinch sing-along story each year and it is always a standing-room-only audience. To accommodate the popular demand, they have added more shows this year and even an extra special event of another kind.
The first set of performances will be lined up on Dec. 1 (10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 noon, 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.) in Room 208 of the Civic Centre. All tickets are $5, cash only, available at the door.
If you can't get in to see any of those performances, there is one other chance. On Dec. 8 the choir will sing again in their special Trim Up The Tree concert at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church. Showtime is 7 p.m. that night.
"The first half of the concert will feature new Christmas classics like White Winter Hymnal and Solstice Song alongside Christmas favorites like Little Drummer Boy and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," said Norman. "The second half will feature a full Grinch reading for all ages."
The Nove Voce (pronounced NO-vay VO-chay) choir is comprised of 26 voices and often include special guests when they perform, as is the case on Dec. 8.
"We will have a very special guest join us for the first half Cantore Alegre - Prince George's newest ensemble directed by Noves Voce's own Kathy Pereira," said Norman. "
Tickets for Trim Up The Tree are on sale now at Books & Company for $20 for adults and $10 for children under 12.
While there, you can also pick up a true gift from the choir to the community: a Nove Voce calendar for 2019.
