Curt Seeden: Fountain Valley vocalists will celebrate the holidays with ‘Sounds of the Season’ concert
Each holiday season, Fountain Valley High School vocal music director Kevin Tison stages an elaborate musical concert, which this year will be held Tuesday, Dec. 11 at the Segerstrom Concert Hall.
“Sounds of the Season – Past & Present,” will be presented at 6:45 p.m. on Segerstrom’s main stage.
Tison says he came up with the concept of the concert to “celebrate the rich traditions and history of this program from its inception in 1964 to present day, showcasing the exceptional talents of his current students and alumni of the program.”
All seven high school choirs will be performing. They’ll be joined by the Fountain Valley Singers (a middle-school choir started by Tison in 2007) and an alumni choir, open to graduates of the program.
“Holiday music is very nostalgic, emotional, mesmerizing and powerful — yet peaceful,” Tison said. “The holiday season of the year is generally loved by people everywhere and truly transcends so many divisive lines in society … something we really need right now. It is the perfect concert to bring people all together to enjoy a night of true magic and beauty.”
The first performance of “Sounds of the Season” was performed at Segerstrom in 2010.
The choirs are accompanied by a full professional orchestra of almost 60 instrumentalists – many of whom play regularly as a part of other concerts with the Vocal Music Program.
“We truly pull out all the stops for this performance,” Tison said.
The concert will feature classical selections and holiday favorites including “White Christmas,” “O Holy Night,” “Ave Maria,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and a candlelight finale of John Rutter’s “Silent Night.”
Alumni of the Vocal Music Program can contact Tison at ktison@hbuhsd.edu by Dec. 5 if they wish to participate in the alumni choir or to get more information.
Tickets range from $10 to $35 and will be available on the FVHS Vocal Music website, fvhsVocalMusic.com and on the school website, fvhs.com
Another holiday tradition that deserves mention is Fountain Valley-based Festival Ballet’s annual presentation of “The Nutcracker,” set for Dec. 8-24 at the Irvine Barclay Theatre in Irvine.
Festival Ballet Theatre’s production features Tchaikovsky’s iconic score and a cast of hundreds. This full-length traditional production is choreographed and directed by Festival Ballet Theatre’s artistic director Salwa Rizkalla, and features Festival Ballet’s professional company dancers, young performers from across Southern California, and guest artists.
Performances are at 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 8; 1 p.m. Dec. 9; 7 p.m. Dec. 14; 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 15; 1 and 6 p.m. Dec. 16; 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 21; 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 22; 1 and 6 p.m. Dec. 23; and 11 a.m. Dec. 24.
For ticket information, contact the Barclay box office at 949-854-4646 or email thebarclay.org