Yellowknife (Dec 17/04) - If you're thoroughly sick of the canned Christmas carols that have been piped into public spaces since Halloween, the Yellowknife Choral Society has something different to offer.

Shad Turner, who is conducting Born, the Choral Society's Christmas concert, said the old chestnuts will be kept to a minimum.

"It's music that has a traditional message, but few traditional carols," he said.

"The intention is to pull back from the zaniness of it all and focus on the serenity and the beauty of this time of year."

The Choral Society will sing in a variety of styles, from the heavily classical to spirituals. Erica Tesar will perform readings pertinent to the season. And if you really want a dose of the nostalgic, a recorder group will do a few traditional carols and there will be an audience sing-a-long.

"Everything will carry the same theme, the message of the birth of Christ," said Turner.

Though the choral society, like the city itself, has been "slightly decimated" by residents migrating home to their families for the holidays, the society has also picked up a few more singers in the past month. Thirty-five singers will participate in the concert tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly.

Tickets are only available in advance from Birchwood Gallery.

Soloists at the Christmas performance will include Sophie Leger, Shawn Mattas and Margo Nightingale, who is co-director of the choral society with Turner this year.

In the new year, Nightingale will take over the conducting and Turner will get a chance to sing.