The Christmas Cantata Project
The Christmas Cantata Project has become an annual tradition for Conception Bay South and surrounding areas. Since 2013, the CSCA's Holiday Concert has featured their own choirs plus the performance of a half hour massed choir work celebrating the Christmas season. All interested singers from the community are invited to join in the massed choir. Since 2014 the program has involved an orchestra accompanying the choir, which has become one of the most favourite parts of the program for our audience and all involved.
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2023 - Tidings of Joy: A Celtic Christmas Celebration
We are pleased to announce that we will be celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Cantata Project with an ambitious performance of Tidings of Joy: A Celtic Christmas Celebration by Joseph M. Martin! With an anticipated choir of 100 singers, special guests and a Celtic Consort, this will be a performance not to miss!
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2022 - This is the Time by Dr. David Buley
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After a 2 year hiatus due to the pandemic, CSCA had their first joint Holiday Concert with newly appointed Artistic Directors Dr. David Buley and Abra Whitney. A jazz cantata, This is the Time by Dr. David Buley was performed by CSCA and community members, with a 4 piece jazz band. With a full house at All Saints Anglican Church, CSCA was back and energized for the future of The Christmas Cantata Project.
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2019 - Love Came Down at Christmas by Joel Raney
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For the first time since the Cantata’s inception, we decided to repeat a favourite work in 2019 – “Love Came Down at Christmas”, by Joel Raney. Back at All Saints Anglican Church in Foxtrap, our special guests were members of the Queen Elizabeth High School Choir under the direction of Heather Lewis. The event was a huge success with the most collected for the Food Bank at one of our concerts to date!
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2018 - The Song Heard 'Round the World by Joseph M. Martin
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We decided to take our concert to St. John’s for the first time in 2018. The choir performed for a full and enthusiastic audience once again at beautiful St. James United Church. The cantata was Joseph M. Martin’s “The Song Heard ‘Round the World” which focused around the theme of unity and love for all. We were delighted to share the evening with special guest participants from all over the world through the Association for New Canadians.
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2017 - A Thrill of Hope by Joel Raney
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Our 2017 concert took place once again at All Saints Anglican Church, except it wasn’t 2017! Despite the weather forcing us to postpone, our ‘Christmas in January’ concert was a great success. The cantata performed was “A Thrill of Hope” by Joel Raney.
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2016 - Let the Whole World Sing by Joel Raney
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In 2016, the concert took place once again at All Saints Anglican Church with a record total of over 100 singers and musicians taking part. The work performed was “Let The Whole World Sing” by Joel Raney. Special guests were the St. Peter’s Anglican Junior Choir, Upper Gullies, led by Vicki Greenslade.
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2015 - Love Came Down at Christmas
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In 2015, the concert took place at All Saints Anglican Church in CBS and saw both the choir and the orchestra grow. The work performed was “Love Came Down At Christmas” by Joel Raney. Special guests were the Avalon Boys Choir, led by Stephen Candow.
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2014 -A New Birth, a New Beginning by John Purifoy
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In 2014, the program was opened up to all interested members in the CBS and surrounding area who wished to participate. This was also our first Cantata with orchestra. The concert was held at Topsail United Church and the work performed was “A New Birth, A New Beginning” by John Purifoy. Soloists were Deirdre Costello and Fraser McCurdy.
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2013 - When Love Was Born by John Rasley
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In 2013, the Coastal Sounds Community Choir invited members of the Topsail United Choir Adult Choirs and the Anchormen Chorus to participate in the first Christmas Cantata Project. The choirs were joined by Afterglow, a six member a cappella ensemble, and performed “When Love Was Born” John Rasley and Frank Cross, accompanied by piano.
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