“A Rivertree Christmas” aims to please the Christmas carol fan and choral connoisseur alike.
The Rivertree Singers’ annual Yuletide program will be performed twice this year: Dec. 16 at White Oak Baptist Church and Dec. 20 at the Peace Center’s Gunter Theatre.
“I like to say we have something for everyone,” said Warren Cook, founder and artistic director of the Rivertree Singers.
“We have titles that choral-music lovers will recognize with featured composers such as William Mathias, John Rutter, William Walton and Ola Gjeilo,” he said.
“We’ll also have familiar carols like ‘Angels We Have Heard on High’ and traditional seasonal favorites like ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.’”
The 40-member group will be accompanied by a small instrumental ensemble. Some works will be performed a cappella.
Youth choruses spotlighted
The program will also feature two youth choruses: The Blue Ridge High School Choir at White Oak Baptist and the Greenville Youth Chorale at the Peace Center.
The young choral groups will be featured alone, as well as with the Rivertree Singers in a few pieces.
“It’s part of our mission to reach out to arts programs in the schools to help foster that lifelong singing that we want everyone to enjoy,” said Cook, who retired in 2021 after serving 41 years as professor and director of choral activities at Bob Jones University.
The concerts will conclude with singalongs of “White Christmas” and “Away in a Manger.”
Founded in 2010, the Rivertree Singers is a talented group of vocalists made up of alumni of 13 collegiate choral programs. Fourteen members are choral conductors themselves in Upstate public and private schools.
The Rivertree Singers perform a season of four programs a year.
Other upcoming concerts include:
- “A Rivertree Valentine,” 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at the War Memorial Chapel at Bob Jones University.
- “Hosanna to Hallelujah!” 7 p.m. April 19 at White Oak Baptist Church.
In addition, every summer Cook directs the Rivertree Singers & Friends Choral Festival. Last June, Cook led a chorus of 200 voices and an orchestra of 60 in the Southeastern premiere of a new oratorio, “Creation,” by Greenville-based composer Dan Forrest.
Next June, Cook will lead a large chorus and orchestra in Forrest’s “Jubilate Deo” in Rodeheaver Auditorium on the Bob Jones campus.
Want to go?
What: “A Rivertree Christmas”
When and where:
- Dec. 16, 7 p.m., White Oak Baptist Church, 1805 Wade Hampton Blvd. (Info: rivertreesingers.com)
- Dec. 20, 7 p.m., Peace Center Gunter Theatre (Info: 864-467-3000 or peacecenter.org)
Tickets: $15-$30
