Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus prepares holiday concert

‘Bells in Boyland’

The weekend after “Shout Out to Heaven and Earth,” the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus stages its annual holiday concert at its long-time home, The Cathedral of St. Philip. This year it’s titled “Bells in Boyland,” a reference to the collaboration with the Atlanta Concert Ringers, says Kevin Robison, artistic director of the AGMC. Shows are scheduled for 8 p.m. on Dec. 9 and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Dec. 10.

“They are a very fine handbell choir who last performed with us on my first concert with the AGMC, called ‘Bells, Brass & Beyond,’ in 2007,” says Robison. “Also, the chorus did several successful shows called ‘Babes in Boyland’ a few years before I came on board. We liked the merging of the two.”

One of the new aspects this year is the addition of a Hanukkah piece.

“Programming to include music for the Jewish holiday is one of my favorite challenges,” says Robison. Much of the annual show, however, remains familiar.

“Our processional and recessional has been standard since I became artistic director in 2007,” Robison says. “It is a rousing, majestic arrangement of an ancient plainchant. In keeping with that tradition, the men will enter in silence and perform the chant in the aisles. We then process to instrumental music to the front and perform the full text. To end the concert, the chorus recesses and sings the final notes, enveloping the audience.”

The Saturday matinee ice cream social is also a favorite.

The Atlanta Concert Ringers will bring in four of their own pieces and will perform with the chorus on two, including “Silver Bells.”

Tickets to “Bells in Boyland” range from $20 – $40.

‘Bells in Boyland’
Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus
Friday, Dec. 9, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 10, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The Cathedral of St. Philip
2744 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
www.agmchorus.org