Season 3 of the Bates Beach Farm Music series continues Saturday, Dec. 19 at the Little Red Church featuring the sensational vocal quartet Swing Set, performing a 2:30 matinée performance and a 7:30 evening performance.
This well-loved a cappella jazz group features Jenn Forsland, Wendy Nixon Stothert, Michelle Weckesser and Dale Graham. Their honey-sweet blend, playful and passionate delivery and gorgeous repertoire is certain to add magic to your Christmas season.
Nixon Stothert is an acclaimed music leader in the Comox Valley, directing the Just In Time Choirs, the Canadian Military Wives Choir Comox, as well as running Choral Valley retreats, workshops and festivals, on top of performing. Wendy’s passion and commitment are her musical trademarks.
Forsland fronts the Jenn Forsland Group, directs the Celebration Singers and Island Voices, teaches music privately and in the school system, and is an in-demand adjudicator for music festivals.
Weckesser is a stunning soloist with both classical and jazz credentials. Her 2011 move to Cowichan Bay has not deterred her from return engagements with Swing Set while becoming fully involved in the musical life of her new community, directing the high school choir and teaching private voice lessons.
Graham has been a presence on local stages for two decades.
Her pre-2000 work was in the folk and Celtic genres, but she is now best known for her jazz material. She appears regularly with Indigo Jazz.
Together, these women represent exceptional talent and experience. Their four-part crisp and clean a cappella blend anchors the show, but piano and solo vocals make an appearance in each performance. Their show blends straight-ahead Christmas repertoire with heart-warmers from the classical and pop realms.
The beautiful harmonies and poignant lyrics of True Colours and In My Life move listeners to tears, while the quartet’s rendition of Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy inevitably draws gales of laughter.
Christmas favourites include Deck The Hall, The Holly and The Ivy, and I’ll Be Home For Christmas.
In years past, the Swing Set Christmas shows have drawn over-capacity crowds, so get your tickets early.
The Bates Beach Music Series is made possible by the financial and volunteer support of the Obal family (Grace, Mike and Ben).
The Bates Beach Music Series is a family-friendly venue with a fund-raising concession offering tea, coffee, soft beverages, and yummy homemade-style pies. This year’s concession profit beneficiary is the Comox Valley Child Development Association.
Tickets at the door are $12.
Advance tickets are $10, available at Bop City in Courtenay and Red Carpet Boutique in Comox.