Hudson Community Choruses celebrate with song on Dec. 2

Hudson Community Choruses – adult, youth and children’s – kick off the holiday season with Gaudete, an intergenerational program of festive music featuring harp, percussion, organ and piano, on Sunday, Dec. 2, at 4 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Hudson, 47 Aurora St.

This annual holiday concert includes both traditional and contemporary seasonal music and spotlights different sections of the chorus throughout the program. All choirs and the audience come together for a final carol sing along.

The Hudson Youth Chorus, directed by Eve Sliwinski, and accompanied by Amy Tan, will open the program with “Cuncti Simus” featuring soloists Devin Oates, Emma Houston and Samantha Betts, and “Stars Are For Those That Lift Their Eyes.” Cellist Samantha Betts will accompany.

The Ladies and Youth choruses, also directed by Sliwinski, will join together for Kirk Mechem’s “Seven Joys of Christmas.” This work includes seven lesser-known Christmas carols from other countries to illustrate seven different “joys” of the season. Antonia Bruno, Devin Oates, Samantha Betts and Sydney Jones are featured along with harpist Emily Laurance.

HCC’s Children’s Chorus will sing “Winter Song,” by Audrey Snyder and Cynthia Gray’s “Winter Sleigh Ride.” Accompanist Jenny Adams will perform with the Children’s Chorus.

HCC’s Men’s Chorus takes the stage to perform a modern spiritual “Look Up Children” and is also featured in Gaudete. The full chorus comes together in Eric Whitacre’s contemporary Christmas piece “Lux Aurumque.” “A Christmas Garland” brings singers and audience together in a celebration of Christmas carols.

Tickets are available online at hudsonsings.org. Pre-sale tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for students. Tickets at the door are $15 for adults and $6 for students. Last year’s program was a sellout, so advanced ticket purchases are encouraged.

The Hudson Community Choruses are grateful for the ongoing support of the Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation, Hudson Kiwanis and the Hudson Community Foundation. HCC is an independent nonprofit that operates through contributions from the community, area business and foundations, membership dues and ticket sales. Celebrating its 31st season, the choruses draw members from more than 14 area communities and are open to adults 18 and over and students from third through 12th grade. Winter/spring season rehearsals begin Jan. 8. More information is available about the choruses and ticket purchases at hudsonsings.org.