Ponder the wonder with Chorale concert

There will be three opportunities to enjoy the Central Coast Chorale’s holiday concert, “Winter Wonder, Celebrating the Season of Light,” with music celebrating Kwanzaa, Chanukah, Winter Solstice and Christmas in Yachats on Thursday, Dec. 15, Lincoln City on Saturday, Dec. 17, and Newport on Sunday, Dec. 18.

The concert opens with an upbeat Swahili anthem “Changamano; join together. Moja, moja; one by one.” Following selections move between the hauntingly beautiful, “In December, Chanukah Prayer,” to the festive “Wassail Song" and the traditional “Dark is the Silent Night.” Chorale favorite Eric Whitacre will be represented in his soaring piece “Lux Aurumque.” The concert will conclude with a rousing traditional Nigerian Christmas song, “Betelehemu." This upbeat crowd-pleaser, sung in the Yoruba language, will be accompanied by Abdoulaye Thioub and Daaray Baye Fall.

The chorale’s mixed small ensemble, SoundWaves, will perform “Funky Dreidl,” a complex, upbeat piece in a straight funk style. "Winter Solstice Moon,” a lyrical piece inspired by Hopi sources and a contemporary reworking of the 10th Century Latin text “O Magnum Mysterium” will round out the SoundWaves portion of the concert.

A 50-50 raffle at each location will help restore the chorale’s accounts, which were severely depleted during the closures necessitated by the pandemic.

Thursday’s performance begins at 7 pm at the Yachats Commons, located at 441 Hwy. 101. Saturday’s performance begins at 4 pm at the Chapel by the Sea, 2125 SE Lee Avenue in Lincoln City. Sunday’s performance begins at 4 pm at the Newport First Presbyterian Church, 227 NE 12th Street. Admission for all performances is by $10 suggested donation.

For more information, go to centalcoastchorale.com.