North Coast Concert and Chamber Chorales of MiraCosta College Present Holiday Concert

The North Coast Concert and Chamber Chorales of MiraCosta College will present their annual holiday concert, “Gloria,” on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church of Oceanside, located at 2001 S. El Camino Real.

The program will showcase a variety of traditional and contemporary holiday choral music, including “Gloria” by Arnold Freed, “Gloria A Dios” by Michael Mendoza and “O Magnum Mysterium” by Morten Lauridsen.  In addition, the choirs will present familiar holiday songs and carols such as “The Christmas Song” by Mel Torme and “Silent Night” sung in Spanish.

In addition, the 25-voiced Chamber Chorale will perform the San Diego County premiere of a new piece by Dale McGowan entitled, “The Snickelways of York,” which tells of a York, England, man who becomes lost in the twisted alleys on his way home for Christmas dinner, but is rescued and directed home by “a red-suited man with a nod and a wink.”

MiraCosta’s choirs enjoy a long history of choral excellence.  The groups have toured nationally and internationally, having been heard by audiences in San Diego County as well as in Sweden, Russia, China, Hawaii and Spain. The MiraCosta choirs are have been directed by Carlsbad resident James Shepard since 1990.  Shepard is a graduate of the University of Southern California and San Diego State University, and will conduct his final holiday concerts prior to his upcoming retirement in 2008.

General admission is $10; seniors/students, $8. Tickets may be purchased at the door or online at www.miracosta.edu/music or by calling (760) 795-6815. Photos of each of the chorales are available for download at www.miracosta.edu/photos.