Voicing the Spirit of Christmas

Each year, the advent of the holiday season rings in a time of musical celebration.

And two area performance groups will do their part to lift concert-goers into the holiday spirit this weekend with separate programs.

The Ojai Community Chorus will present “An English Christmas” Friday and Saturday, while The Moorpark Masterworks Chorale performs its annual “Christmas Celebration” Saturday and Sunday.

“We’ll be joined by the internationally recognized tenor soloist Jeffrey Thomas,” said Phil Harvey, artistic director of the Ojai Community Chorus. “He’s got a bio two pages long, chock full of accomplishments and praises. We’re lucky to have him.”

The 75-voice chorus, under the direction of Dr. Charles McDermott, will perform works from four centuries of British choral music. It will be joined, Harvey said, by a boys’ choir and a chamber orchestra.

“One of the favorites we do,” Harvey said, “is Benjamin Britten’s ‘St. Nicolas.’ The audience will join in--they love it.” Other pieces include “Fantasy on Christmas Carols” and “Wassail Song,” both by Ralph Vaughan Williams, plus a medley of Yuletide carols.

Both performances will be held at 8 p.m. at the Ojai Presbyterian Church, Foothill Road and Aliso Street, Ojai. Suggested donation, $10; senior citizens and students, $5. Tickets are available in advance. Call 646-1437 or 646-8679.

The Moorpark Masterworks Chorale, under the direction of James Stemen, will hold its annual concerts at the Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1600 E. Hillcrest Drive, in Thousand Oaks.

Featured works during both performances are Bach’s “Gloria in Excelsis Deo,” Schubert’s “Magnificat” and “A Christmas Garland” by Conrad Susa.

“We’ll also perform a number of traditional and modern carols,” Stemen said.

The Moorpark Masterworks Chorale concerts will showcase the Amadeus Boys Choir, directed by Dr. Wilbur Skeels. Two handbell soloists will also accompany the chorale, Stemen said.

Saturday’s performance begins at 8 p.m.; Sunday’s is at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10; students, $8; children under 12, $6. For more information or ticket reservations, call 378-1438.