The singers of Ex Gracia Choir have always loved Christmas carols, and this year they are stepping up their carols game another notch by presenting a Christmas concert on Saturday, November 30, at Springwood Presbyterian Church, featuring carols of all kinds, from those you'll know well to some so obscure there'll be prizes if anyone in the audience has heard of them before.
In the almost-10-years that Ex Gracia has been singing in the mountains and beyond, they have performed a startlingly diverse range of music at a variety of community and commercial events, including Queen at Glenbrook Park, Metallica at Blackheath, Lady Gaga at Rooty Hill, and Beethoven in Katoomba.
They perform brand new Australian works with the composer sitting in the audience. They have sung in French, Italian, Macedonian, Japanese, Latin and Hebrew. They are fluent in both Rodgers and Hammerstein. They dream in four-part harmonies.
The one constant through all their musical travels, however, has been their regular devotion to performing carols at Christmas. Over the years they have delighted Christmas shoppers throughout greater Sydney, who have come across Ex Gracia delivering festive harmonies from escalators in Castle Towers; on the march through the Macquarie Centre; on stage in the Panthers Stadium; and in a variety of locations around Penrith Westfield.
Each December Ex Gracia also teams up with the Blue Mountains Concert Band to entertain senior citizens at Lower Blue Mountains Rotary's 'Young at Heart' Christmas luncheon.
In the past Ex Gracia has generally stuck to the standards and popular favourites when it comes to Christmas singing. However it was only a matter of time before their eclectic approach to music in general came to bear on their carols repertoire. This year they have ventured far and wide in pursuit of carols through the ages, to put together a concert program to delight and intrigue.
Sing We Now Of Christmas - the name of the concert inspired by an old French carol in the program - brings together all the old favourites of Christmas alongside a selection of carols drawn from history.
The concert will feature choral works, smaller ensembles and duets, accompanied by cello, double bass, recorder, bells and drum.
The concert is at 2pm on Sunday, November 30, at Springwood Presbyterian Church, 160 Macquarie Road, Springwood. Entry is free, with donations appreciated to help cover the choir's expenses.
