Musically, for many, attending the annual Borealis Chorale & Orchestra Christmas Concert is the highlight of the year. Held over two evenings on Sunday, December 10 and Monday, December 11 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais, this free concert features more than 75 local musicians and singers whose talents are merged and made magical under the direction of composer/conductor Bill Beckstrom.
Let the magic of the Borealis Chorale & Orchestra Christmas Concerts brighten your winter night! Over 75 talented Cook County singers and musicians continue the treasured community tradition, under the skilled directorship of composer/ conductor Bill Beckstrand. Featuring seasonal works by celebrated composers, this year’s program includes selections that span the centuries and the globe, including England, France, Germany, Sweden, Russia, and the American South. Stirring hymns and rousing carols that awaken and uplift winter-weary souls, these works by Praetorius, Rachmaninov, Handel, Rutter, and many more combine in a wonderfully rich holiday mix. Joining the BCO this year are six Cook County students whose solos add a delightful multi-generational component to the great musical talent of the group.
Truly a community-sustained tradition, the BCO is largely funded by donations from Cook County residents and visitors. These contributions allow the director to purchase music for the chorus and orchestra and, at times, to pay visiting musicians who fill in gaps. Giving to the BCO means ensuring that this beloved tradition can continue each year. Every contribution helps.
About the Borealis Chorale & Orchestra: From the early days of Cook County’s Symphonium Music Club in the 1950s, to today’s BCO, hundreds of talented and devoted community members have kept the fine tradition of choral music alive in Cook County. Since 2013, an affiliation with the North Shore Music Association (a local nonprofit that hosts monthly concerts and educational events) has helped the BCO to expand opportunities for community participation in choral and orchestral music.
The concerts will be held December 10 and 11 at 7 p.m. at the Bethlehem Lutheran church in Grand Marais, 417 1st Ave. W. There is no charge but donations to the Borealis Chorale & Orchestra are appreciated.
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