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Watching singers enjoy performing is fun for the audience, too. That’s the mindset behind every Upscale Singers concert.
For the third year, Scottsdale’s premier adult choir, Upscale Singers, will conduct its Christmas shows in a relaxed holiday party setting at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, 34605 N. Tom Darlington Drive, Scottsdale.
The idea of “Spirit of the Season” is for audience members to feel as if they are attending an intimate gathering of friends who love to sing. This year the audience has a choice of two different times to feel that joy: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11.
Tickets ($20 for adults, $10 for youths age 18 and under) are available at upscalesingers.com or at the door.
“I am really excited about this year’s concert. The music’s great, and the choir sounds wonderful,” said director Margaret Watson.
The selections range from holiday classics (“Go Tell It on the Mountain,” John Rutter’s “Angels’ Carol” and Handel’s chorus “For Unto Us a Child Is Born” from the Messiah) to current-day favorites (“Breath of Heaven,” “Mary Did You Know?” and Brett Eldredge’s “Glow”). There also will be opportunities for the audience to sing along.
“All the singers have been talking about how much they love the music selections, and I love them, too,” Watson said. “The music is gorgeous and really touches the heart. I know I feel that way at every rehearsal.”
Upscale Singers concerts combine experience with expertise. The singers perform without holding music books — they memorize the selections and interact with the audience. That’s why the concerts are so lively, according to a press release.
“I feel so honored to be directing this group,” Watson said. “They are so talented and give everything they have to the performances. They share their love of music with the audience, and that is a very special gift. Many of us have been singing together for almost 20 years, and there is really a bond that has developed.”
Upscale Singers was formed in 2005 to provide great entertainment for the community and benefit young vocalists. The 30-member group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and every concert also includes the Upscale Kids.
Upscale Singers’ biggest youth program is the Cheryl Siebs Memorial Vocal Scholarships. The first-place finishers in the senior and junior divisions sing at the concerts, and the prize money for each one goes to the vocal music teacher of the winner’s choice, the press release stated.
Scholarship auditions are scheduled for 4:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, and 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church. To schedule an audition, go to www.Calendly.com/upscalesingersaz/auditions.
