Holiday Tunes Get Powegians in the Spirit

It wouldn’t be the holiday season without a little fa-la-la. Kicking off the musical side to the season, the RB Chorale will perform their 38th annual holiday show, ’Tis the Holiday Season, at the on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Audiences can expect familiar holiday tunes sung by an all-volunteer cast of 120 local voices. The best part: The audience is encouraged to sing along.  

“This year’s show will feature Christmas music, including the traditional Hallelujah Chorus sing-along, Hanukkah songs, specialty numbers, and a stirring salute to our armed forces,” said Pat Bean, founder/director of RBChorale Inc. “There will be singing, dancing, fabulous sets and costumes, and a special sparkly take-away for everyone in the audience.”

Among the soloists is RB Chorale newcomer Johnathon Stone, a guitarist who recently moved to the area from Tennessee and has recorded several albums. Kim Hissami will return to sing “Ave Maria,” while the San Rafael Catholic Church hand bell choir—who will perform in the lobby before each show—will join the Chorale on stage for “Noel Festival” and “On a Still and Silent Night.”

And, for the young and the young at heart, Santa will be making a special appearance. Guests are also asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy donation to help a needy child.

Friday and Saturday the show is at 7 p.m.; Sunday the show is at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for students and seniors (55+) and $5 for children (0-12 years). For more information, call 485-7664 or visit rbchorale.org.

Another holiday show at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts will feature students. 

Tonight, students will perform its Orchestra Winter Concert at 7 p.m. Led by Poway High Orchestra Directors Mike Cook and Sylvester Sybilski, guests can expect a fall and winter seasonal repertoire.

And tomorrow, Poway High will present its Band Winter Concert at 7 p.m. in the PHS gymnasium. The Emerald Brigade will showcase their award-winning field show music and their annual Russian Christmas music set, highlighting select alumni. Guided by Cook and Sybilski, they will also perform holiday music with band students from the Twin Peaks music program.

Admission is $5 per adult for both events.

Across town, creative Powegians will be taking part in Hanukkah Happening 2011 at . Participants can sign up to paint a personalized dreidel or wooden menorah, create Hanukkah sand art or design their own Hanukkah cards, gift tags and jewelry.  

“Our Hanukkah event is a place for families to come to create special Hanukkah crafts and art activities that exemplify the Jewish holiday,” said Bonnie Stromer, a registered art therapist. “They can create hand-painted wooden dreidels and menorahs, other Hanukkah-themed crafts and provide an outlet to make presents for friends and loved ones.”

Hanukkah Happening is from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday. For details, contact Stromer at 679- ARTS (2787) or bonnie@xpressivearts.com. Refreshments will be served.

From now through Dec. 21, the Academy of World Dance n Arts is hosting a food drive to benefit the San Diego Food Bank, collecting nonperishable food items for the organization’s Holiday Food Drive 2011.

The community is invited to bring donation items to World Dance n Arts, who has set a goal of collecting 200 pounds of food this month. Items that are needed most include: canned meat, tuna, soups, fruits and vegetables, dried beans, cereal, pasta, rice, peanut butter and infant formula.

For more information about the San Diego Food Bank, visit sandiegofoodbank.org.