Community: Civic Pride seeking lot of bling in decorating contest

The Burbank Civic Pride Committee will be looking for a lot of glitz and bling when judging this year’s Holiday Outdoor Decorating Contest.

There are three categories: commercial, residential and youth (under 16). Residents and business owners must enter the contest to be eligible to compete.

For the first time, people who have decorated their houses and apartments for the holidays can enter the contest by filling out an entry form online at the city of Burbank website, said Robert Vincent, chair of the pride committee.

“If you have a neighbor or a friend who does an amazing job with their decorations, encourage them to submit a form so they can be judged,” he said.

Designers entering the residential category should put a lot of pizzazz into their decorations, Vincent said.

“I’d like to see something glitzy — like the Kardashians would do. We want homes that have lots of bling, animatronics, music and lights blinking,” he said.

Vincent said he is hoping that new businesses in town, such as Wood Ranch BBQ and Grill, will decorate and enter the contest.

“Over the years, we’ve had Priscilla’s, Holiday Inn and Samuel’s Florist, but with all the new businesses in town, it would be great to see them get on board,” he said. “In my mind, I’d like to see something like they do at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York — every window has its own elaborate holiday display.”

For the youth category, committee members will be looking for artistic elements and designs with a lot of heart, Vincent said.

Entry deadline is Tuesday. To enter, fill out the form on the website burbankca.gov or download the form and bring it or mail it to the public information office at Burbank City Hall, 150 N. Third St., Burbank.

The committee will drive around and judge those who have entered the competition beginning at 5 p.m. on Dec. 15. Decorations must be visible from the street. Lights should remain on from dusk until 11:30 p.m.

Each winner will be presented with a certificate from Mayor Jess Talamantes during a City Council meeting. For more information, call (818) 238-5840.

Youths sing with children’s chorus

Burbank siblings Orison Piper and Morrow Piper are members of the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, which will perform a winter concert at 7 p.m. on Sunday at the Pasadena Presbyterian Church, 585 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena.

Works on the program will be by Vivaldi, Holst, Britten and Bach, composers who expanded the children’s choral repertoire and taught and conducted children themselves.

The chorus is made up of more than 400 children ages 6 to 18 from 50 communities across Los Angeles. It performs with such leading organizations as the L.A. Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Master Chorale and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

For tickets, visit lachildrenschorus.org or call (626) 793-4231.

Festival of Trees benefits youth club

The Boys & Girls Club of Burbank and Greater East Valley is celebrating its first Festival of Trees in partnership with the Los Angeles Marriott Hotel-Burbank Airport.

Local businesses and organizations were invited to decorate a tree in a specific theme. The holiday trees are on display now at the Marriott and will be the main attraction during a cocktail reception and auction on Thursday night at the hotel.

For more information, contact Susan Sebastian at susansebastian@bgcburbank.org.

Residents can sing with chorale

Local residents will sing with the Los Robles Master Chorale during the concert titled “A Joyful Noise!” at 4 p.m. on Dec. 18 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Scherr Forum, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

Performing will be Burbank residents Leah Allers, soprano, and Ann Sheridan, alto.

Board members from Burbank are husband and wife, Mike O’Sullivan, president; and Judi O’Sullivan, secretary.

The concert will be led by Lesley Leighton, artistic director, and will showcase John Rutter’s “Gloria” and a world premiere by Jasper Randall, commissioned by the chorale. Holiday carols are also on the program.

The three-movement “Gloria” was described by Rutter as “a bright, Latin-flavored fiesta.” The 105-voice chorus will also perform Printz’s “Sing with Joy, Sing Noel;” Burt’s “Some Children See Him,” Mendelssohn’s “Weihnachten”, Op. 79, No. 1;” Ruth Morris Gray’s “No Room, No Room” and three works by Shawn Kirchner — “Bright Morning Stars,” “Brightest and Best” and “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming.”

For tickets, call (805) 526-7464 or visit losroblesmasterchorale.org.

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JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.