The Baltimore Choral Arts Society (Choral Arts) returns to the Basilica at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1 for its annual holiday concert: Christmas with Choral Arts.
The chorus, led by Music Director Anthony Blake Clark, will be joined by the Choral Arts Orchestra and artists from the Baltimore Black Dance Collective for an evening of festive songs, traditional carols, and audience singalongs, narrated by WBJC’s Judith Krummeck.
“This year, I’m delighted that we’re adding to the Christmas with Choral Arts tradition by partnering with artists from the Baltimore Black Dance Collective who will be performing a blend of ballet with West African dance and drumming to portions of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. This type of unique fusion is one of the ways that we keep our longest-running program fresh and exciting so that audiences will return year after year,” Clark said.
Another new addition this year is a partnership with WBAL-TV 11. The concert will be recorded live on Dec. 1 and premiering on television at 7 p.m. on Dec. 19, with encore broadcasts on Christmas Day at noon and 7 p.m.
“We are thrilled to be returning to broadcast by sharing this year’s Christmas concert on WBAL,” Executive Director Adam Frank said. “This program has been a Baltimore institution for over 40 years, and WBAL is a natural fit to help us bring the joy of holiday music to every home in Baltimore.”
This year’s program features music by J.S. Bach, John Rutter, John Williams, and several pieces composed or arranged by talented members of the BCAS artistic staff. Music Director Anthony Blake Clark’s 2025 composition, “New Star Carol,” dedicated to his newborn twins, will be performed again this year, along with Associate Conductor Leo Wanenchak’s arrangement of “Silent Night,” which was previously featured on WBAL-TV 11’s “Season to Celebrate” television program.
“Local programming connects us to the people and traditions that make Baltimore special. For more than 60 years, the Baltimore Choral Arts Society has shared its extraordinary talent with audiences here at home and around the world,” said Dan Joerres, president and general manager of WBAL-TV 11. “We’re proud to welcome this internationally acclaimed institution to WBAL-TV 11 and bring families across our region together through the music and joy of ‘Christmas with Choral Arts.'”
Adding to the festive atmosphere, BCAS will be hosting a toy drive during the concert to benefit the Kennedy Krieger Institute.
“Our organization has a strong connection to Kennedy Krieger,” Communications Director Rachel Tanenblatt said. “Choral Arts presents free Sing and Play early childhood music classes at Kennedy Krieger every month, and this toy drive invites the community to join us in supporting even more Baltimore families.”
Audience members are invited to bring new, unwrapped toys with them to donate. As a thank you, guests who donate will receive a complimentary ticket to a select BCAS concert in the future.
More information can be found online here. Tickets to Christmas with Choral Arts start at $32 and are available now online here.
READ MORE:Christmas with Baltimore Choral Arts returns to the Basilica
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