Seattle Men’s Chorus to perform Christmas concert in Everett
Published 1:30 am Thursday, December 12, 2019
The Seattle Men’s Chorus will be performing in Everett on Saturday — and Kevin Plambeck of Camano Island couldn’t be happier.
This will be the first time he’s performed with the group for its Christmastime concerts.
The former Stanwood-Camano Island School District administrator had gone to the group’s holiday concerts for years. The first one he remembers attending was in 1989.
This year, though, look for him among the group’s upper basses. He said he expects more than 25 family and friends to attend the Everett concert. About half of them have never seen him sing in concert.
Plambeck, 66, retired from his school district job as director of career and technical education in 2017. He said he sang in high school, but then got too involved with work. About the only chance he got to sing was joining in the strains of “Happy Birthday” at family gatherings.
In April, he auditioned and was chosen to join the Seattle Men’s Chorus. His first performance was at the group’s summer concert.
The 210-member chorus has been practicing for its holiday concerts since September.
“They’re just a fun group to be around,” Plambeck said. Audiences “can hear us with our powerful voices — they’re having a lot of fun.”
This year marks the Seattle Men’s Chorus’ 40th anniversary. Saturday’s concert, titled “Tis the Season,” will include a mix of beautiful choral music, traditional holiday favorites and “absolutely zany hilarity,” said Paul Caldwell, the group’s artistic director.
The songs they will perform include “Festival Gloria,” perhaps the most challenging to perfect. “It’s very classical music and a huge wall of song,” he said. “You know the Seattle Men’s Chorus has arrived.”
Other songs on the program include “Here We Come A-Caroling,” “Glow,” “Santa Claus Got Stuck in My Chimney,” “Happy Joyous Hanukkah” and “Holiday Lament,” aka “The Fruitcake Song” from the musical review “That Time of the Year.”
One song, “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree,” will include dancers performing in front of the chorus.
The chorus is delighted to be coming to Everett for its annual concert, Caldwell said.
“It’s been a great audience for a long time,” he said. “We’re very grateful for all the support we get.”
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.
If you go
The Seattle Men’s Chorus performance is at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave., Everett. Tickets are $25 to $70. More at tinyurl.com/MensChorusEv.
