If you're looking for a musical injection of holiday cheer, you’re in luck.
Starting Dec. 2, the Whistler Singers, Whistler Children’s Chorus and Barbed Choir—and the directors behind them— have a long list of events taking place leading up to Christmas.
Whistler Singers carolling, Dec. 2, 3. 9 and 10
Sponsored by Tourism Whistler, the choir carols through the village for two weekends in early December. This year, the group has extended an invitation to the Whistler Children’s Chorus as well.
“That’s always fun,” says Alison Hunter, director of the group. “That will be our usual Christmas cheer wandering through the village.”
The group sets out on Friday, Dec. 2 and Friday, Dec. 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday carolling—Dec. 3 and 10—will take place from 3 to 6 p.m.
Barbed Choir Holiday Singapalooza, Dec. 9
Whistler’s pop-up rock choir is back with its special holiday singalong.
While the group is usually adults-only, this event is open to all ages.
“Our youngest participant last year was six years old—and in his pyjamas,” says Jeanette Bruce, who runs the group with local musician Laura Nedelak. “He had a great time.”
No prior singing experience is required. Just show up, warm up with some Christmas songs, and prepare to learn the harmonies to The Beach Boys’ “Little Saint Nick.”
Doors for that event are 7 p.m. Entry comes with a minimum $5 donation to the Whistler Community Services Society.
Whistler Singers' Holiday Concert, Dec. 11 and 22
This annual show will offer both a chance to listen and an opportunity to sing along.
“We have Christmas songs and winter songs like Gordon Lightfoot’s ‘Song for a Winter’s Night,’” Hunter says.
The show on Dec. 11 takes place at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church by cash donation.
If you can’t make it to that indoor show, you can catch the group on the old Basalt patio in the village where they will perform a similar set as part of the Crystal Lounge’s Winter Wonderland. That event takes place Dec. 22 at 5:30 p.m.
Whistler Children's Chorus Christmas at Rainbow Show, Dec. 17
Thanks to funding from 100 Women Whistler, the Whistler Children’s Chorus is staging the 1984 production, Christmas at Rainbow.
Written by former chorus director Molly Boyd and former Myrtle Philip School principal Bob Daly, it chronicles Whistler pioneers Alex and Myrtle Philips’ journey to Alta Lake.
Two adults have been brought in to play the starring roles, but in a fitting twist, they’re both chorus graduates who are now pursuing careers in acting.
“We’re really excited to be able to book both of them,” Bruce says. “It’s a cool success story of kids in choir who don’t just leave performing behind when they graduate.”
The show takes place Dec. 17 at the Maury Young Arts Centre at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for kids and $15 for adults, available at howpass.com/whistler- childrens-chorus.
A Winter's Song Solstice Concert, Dec. 18
This is a special one for both Bruce and Hunter. They perform (vocals and harp, respectively) as a trio alongside flute player Anna-Elise Keefer.
“It gives us a chance to be musicians, rather than facilitating everyone else,” Hunter says. “It’s nice to make our own music.”
This year, they’ll be performing a mix that includes medieval music, a couple of Newfoundland songs, and contemporary folk songs.
“Even though right now our schedules are chockfull of various rehearsals, there is a different feeling to the solstice rehearsal,” Bruce says.
That show takes place at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church. Tickets are available for $20 by searching A Winter’s Song Solstice Concert on eventbrite.com.
Christmas Eve Carol Service, Dec. 24
You can mark this down as the third year in a row the Christmas Eve Carol Service, Whistler’s longest-running arts event, has had to make some changes.
Due to COVID, the last two years have been recordings, and while this year will be a return to in-person songs and stories, the venue has changed.
In recent years, it’s taken place the Westin Resort and Spa, but due to issues like staff shortages, the hotel is not able to accommodate the event this year. Instead it will take place at the Whistler Public Library.
Doors for the service—its 39th—will be at 6 p.m. for a 6:30 p.m. start, first come, first served.
