Chorale will perform virtual Christmas concert

Provided photo: Ric Jones of Medina conducts a rehearsal of the Genesee Chorale, which will present a virtual Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Saturday.

MEDINA – A Christmas concert has always been a tradition for the Genesee Chorale, but when the pandemic made a live concert impossible, director Ric Jones of Medina and the chorale board made a decision to have a virtual concert.

Jones, a graduate of Medina High School and Ithaca College with a major in music, also runs Imagine Music Publishing out of his Medina home. In addition to writing music for artists across the country, Jones has been director of the Middleport Community Choir for 17 years, the Genesee Chorale for the 12th year and the Brighton Symphony Orchestra for the fourth year.

Jones, the board of Genesee Chorale and chorale members talked throughout the summer about the possibility of not being able to have their annual Christmas concert.

“We met in late August and I made a presentation to the board to have a virtual concert,” Jones said. “We were confident we could pull it off.”

Their performance titled “And on Earth, Peace” is meant to evoke a sense of calm, hope and peace in this time of uncertainty and fear.

“Our music is meant to be a welcome balm to our community and to extend glad tidings and heartfelt goodwill from Batavia’s own Genesee Chorale,” Jones said.

Selections will feature the entire Genesee Chorale, with Doug Hanson as accompanist, as well as select ensembles of its members, culminating in a full choir performance of “Let There be Peace on Earth.”

Jones said he is super pleased with the sale of tickets so far. In fact, he thinks the virtual concert is creating interest from many people, such as families and friends of the Chorale, who live away and couldn’t have attended a live concert.

Tickets for the 30-minute virtual performance are $5 and are available by clicking here. Ticket purchase provides access to the private premiere virtual concert. Purchasers will receive the link to the concert via e-mail at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The concert goes live at 7 p.m.

For anyone who might not be available at 7 p.m., the link will be available beyond that time. For more information, visit www.GeneseeChorale.com or e-mail infor@geneseechorale.com.