A Cappella brings ‘Tidings of Joy’

Islands A Cappella presents “Tidings of Joy: a festival of songs for the holidays” at Lopez Center for Community and the Arts, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m.

The group has solidified their sound after spending last summer in Italy. Islands A Cappella joined 4,000 other choristers, singers, instrumentalists, conductors and composers in Turin, Italy at the Europa Cantat. For 10 days, musicians took over every performance and rehearsal space in this “little Paris of Italy,” to study, learn, and perform every kind of vocal and instrumental music imaginable. In one case, they even invaded a cooking school, to spend mornings singing about Italian food and then cooking it (and eating it, too). They met and sang with choristers from all over Europe.

After performing their own open-air concert on a stage in the Borgo Mediavale, they were often hailed at other events as “that famous American choir,” much to everyone’s amusement. About 30 seconds of that “famous” concert were broadcast, along with other Festival clips, on Italian public television.

Prior to arriving in Turin, Islands A Cappella spent 4 days touring in the Lake Como area. Concerts were presented in three of the communities surrounding the lake. The group presented a varied program, emphasizing American music and composers. Most popular with the Italian audiences were the American spirituals and the compositions of James Hardman, an Orcas resident composer.

Admission is by donation.

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