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St. George’s holiday sing-along to aid tenor

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In what may be the closest most locals will get to experiencing a “White Christmas,” St. George’s Episcopal Church will host a special holiday sing-along concert Dec. 10 celebrating the 1954 musical classic and the spirit of the season.

The free event begins at 4 p.m. and will feature several musical scenes sung by Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney, with captions that let the audience react to and sing along with the clips. The intention is to create a fun and festive atmosphere, explains Rev. Anthony Keller.

“It should be fun to sing along with a movie that everybody’s seen a billion times,” Keller said.

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But also in the spirit of the holiday season this particular concert is backed by a truly good cause. All funds raised at the event will go to help Daniel Chaney, a tenor and member of the Los Angeles Master Chorale who’s sung at St. George’s for several years, with medical expenses incurred in his battle against cancer.

A student of voice and French horn at University of Denver, Colorado, Chaney joined the L.A. Master Chorale during the 2000-01 season. He has sung as a soloist with L.A. Philharmonic and performed for films including “Godzilla,” “X-Men,” “Pixels” and “Minions.”

St. George’s Music Director Connie Grisham, who’s organized several charity and benefit concerts over the years, said it seemed fitting to hold the Dec. 10 sing-along as a benefit for Chaney, who’s sung in church services for the past eight years.

“He’s a very fine singer,” Grisham said of the vocalist. “He has a beautiful tenor voice, just outstandingly beautiful. Everybody has grown to love him and wants to help out.”

Keller said in addition to singing at services, Chaney also performs at weddings and funeral services at the request of members.

“Whenever he can donate himself and his talent to the church … he offers it out of gratitude and thanks,” he said. “He treats us like a church family.”

Church officials said Chaney learned awhile back he had non-Hodgkins lymphoma and has been in remission twice before. Now they hope to raise whatever small amount they can to help give back to someone who’s given so much to St. George’s.

Despite the solemnity of the cause behind it, the sing-along itself is sure to be a joyous and jolly occasion.

“That kind of fits with Daniel’s personality,” Keller said. “If he was there he’d be singing along, too.”

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St. George’s Episcopal Church is located at 808 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada. Admission to the Dec. 10 event is free, but donations will be accepted by cash or check. Checks may be made payable to the church with a memo indicating the “Daniel Chaney Reserve Fund.” For more information, call (310) 963-1480.

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Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardine

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