The Tribune

THE Bel Canto Singers present their popular traditional “Christmastide” concert this weekend with two performances – at the Old Fort Bay Club on Friday and the St Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk on Saturday.

Held annually over two nights early in December, this year’s concerts will feature arrangements of favourite Christmas carols, anthems, spirituals and other seasonal staples.

Bel Canto will be presenting the 2015 Christmastide Gala for the first time at The Old Fort Bay Club on Friday at 7.15 pm which includes the concert, a silent auction and wines and gourmet cuisine. The following evening a concert-only performance will be held at the Kirk on Prince’s Street at 7.30 pm. Gala tickets are $125 and the concert-only performance tickets are $25.

The concerts are held under the patronage of Dame Marguerite Pindling, the Governor General and over 700 people come from all over the island each year to attend the concerts, which the singers present as a gift to the music community.

Under the direction of Eldridge McPhee, Bel Canto have entered into many collaborations with musicians both at home and internationally. They have been sponsored by Burns House (Commonwealth Brewery) and this year are partnering for the first time with the Rotary Club of East Nassau, all of whose respective charities will benefit from the proceeds of the Gala evening.

“For the past 10 years, I have been realising my vision: to work with individuals, through musical productions, to have an impact on the lives of our members, thereby impacting their communities,” Mr McPhee said.

“The mark of a good leader is discipline; and after having studied music for some 35 years, I know that talent and discipline create success. This formula is not unique to music.”

Through the annual production of Christmastide, Bel Canto have raised more than $90,000 net for charities including The AIDS Foundation over the past six seasons. They have added The Lignum Vitae Centre of Hope and the Unity Centre as well as those charities designated by Burns House and the Rotary Club of East Nassau to their list of worthy non-profit organisations that will benefit from the proceeds of the Gala Night.

For tickets or further information email info@belcantosingersbahamas.com or call 242 376-2772.