Loud singing encouraged in Oliver Library

There will be no “shhhing” in the Oliver Library on Tuesday December 20. Instead, there will be the sound of joyful music. In fact, you might even see the librarians singing along to the harmonies of piano and saxophone. 

Join the Friends of the Library this Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon for a Christmas twist on their usual third-Tuesday coffee morning. Music, singing, and refreshments.  Carol sheets provided (see? there will be some reading at the library!)

Note: This is a great time to pick up some books to see you through the Christmas holidays when the library will be closed. Happy reading – and singing!

Community Christmas Concert December 4

Remember years ago the afternoon Christmas concerts with several Oliver groups participating? The singalong? The kids? The goodies? Well, it’s ho-ho-here again!

The Oliver Community Arts Council is reviving this tradition and presenting a programme full of local entertainment. Fun for the whole family!  The concert is set for Sunday December 4 at 2:30 p.m. using the venue at the Oliver Alliance Church. Admission is FREE but donations to the arts council and Oliver Food Bank are welcome.  

The programme has something for everyone: the Swingin’ Bronze Handbell Ringers, Lori Martine with a  flute instrumental, Bill Phillips with a recitation, the Desert Bronze Handbell Ringers, Bob Park with a guitar instrumental, the Oliver Handbell Ringers, a “teaser” sampling from the Sage Valley Voices (who have a fabulous concert planned the next weekend!),  a vocal/piano duet by Hal H. Hopson and Dorothy Moore, dancing by Delaney Wise, the Oliver Elementary School Chorus, South Okanagan Secondary School Band, the Advent Alliance ensemble, the South Okanagan Adventist Christian School Choir, and the Desert Air Men’s Chorus. What a lineup! 

The concert will promote other seasonal events happening locally. Check out some of the publicity in the foyer. Fill your calendar with joyous celebrations!

The concert concludes with goodie bags for the kids. Thank you to the Oliver Ambassadors, Sheila Lange, Buy-Low Foods, and Super Valu for their support!

Sleighbells and Song with Penticton Concert Band

Nothing says Christmas like a brass fanfare, children’s voices… and sleighbells. The popular Penticton Concert Band returns to Oliver as the headline act in a musical extravaganza “Sleighbells and Song” on Tuesday December 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Frank Venables Auditorium.

Conductor Gerald Nadeau returns with his brass and woodwinds ensemble to put everyone in the spirit. Their repertoire spans the centuries with arrangements of traditional carols to the stirring Christmas Overture to the jazzy Santa Does Dixie.

Joining in the celebration are several local choral groups. The audience will be tempted to hum along with the children’s choir from the Seventh-Day Adventist School as they sing the toe-tapping spirituals Mary Had a Baby and Go Tell it on the Mountain, and chime in on Bells in the Steeple.

The Desert Airs, a local men’s a cappella group, will harmonize on Winter Wonderland, White Christmas, and Angels We Have Heard on High. A mixed quartet from the Adventist and Alliance churches perform My Sheep Were Grazing, Lo How a Rose and Rise up Shepherds and Follow.

There will be an opportunity for the audience to sing along with the brass and woodwinds on a couple of popular winter songs.

Host Stephanie Salsnek adds her trademark sparkle and banter to liven up the evening.

Tickets are $10 adults and $5 students, and are available at Handworks Gallery and Sundance Video on Main Street Oliver. The event is presented by the Oliver Community Arts Council.

For more information, photos, reviews and concert dates check out the prencticton concert band website at http://www.pentictonconcertband.ca/

Want to join the band in 2011? info@pentictonconcertband.ca