Join us as Rio Rancho Youth Chorus presents their 10th annual holiday concert and the Children's Chorus of Rio Rancho sings their very first! This holiday concert will be a combined RRYC and CCRR extravaganza, performed on Saturday, December 3, and Sunday, December 4, at 4311 Sara Rd SE in Rio Rancho. Both concerts will be at 2:00pm. You don’t want to miss this momentous and festive occasion, sure to be a unique and ground-breaking event in the growing performing arts community of Rio Rancho!
Founded back in 2013 by Board President Neal Shotwell and Executive Director Aaron Howe, the RRYC has been bringing the holiday spirit to the Rio Rancho area on the first weekend in December ever since, just in time to get everyone into the spirit of hope, joy, and thankfulness. This December marks the RRYC’s 10th Holiday Chorus Concert, now under the new and dynamic leadership of Artistic Director Colin Burdge! And to add to this joyous anniversary, the newly formed Children’s Chorus of Rio Rancho will be presenting its very first holiday concert ever! Under the experienced and enthusiastic leadership of Louise Loomis, these kids are bursting with pride to show you what they have been learning and preparing.
Tickets are be available here on our website, www.rr-cc.org, or at the door for $15 for Adults, and $12 for Military, seniors (65+) and children under 13. Each concert begins at 2:00 p.m. Doors open at 1:30 p.m.
The titles for each chorus’ set give a preview of the kind of music that we can expect to hear at this concert. The title for the CCRR’s is “Our Very First Holiday Concert Ever,” and Louise Loomis has picked out some joyous and energetic tunes, like "Chrissimas Day," (detailing the animals involvement on the festive holiday) and "Santa Makes The Rounds," (several melodies sung in a round, letting us know Santa’s itinerary). “I wanted to program music that I knew would get the new singers excited about being in a chorus, and for performing for their very first audience. All of these pieces show off what we have been learning about tone quality, rhythm and pitch accuracy, while still singing about things that brings kids happiness, like animals, baking, and Santa Claus!” says Louise Loomis, Artistic Director of the CCRR.
When programming the RRYC set Ring Bells Of Joy, Artistic Director Colin Burdge wanted to create a sound tapestry inspired by "The Ukrainian Bell Tune," more commonly known as "Carol Of The Bells." Although stylistically, the music selections range far and wide, the familiar melodic tune reappears frequently enough to give the listener a sense of continuity and story. “I was inspired by the idea of theme and variation for this concert, an exploration of the emotional impact of that familiar tune, but also of the nostalgia that comes to us this time of year in the sound of bells,” says Colin Burdge, RRYC Artistic Director. Burdge continues, “Also, since this tune has its origin in the country of Ukraine, I wanted this concert to be a reminder not only of the violence and tragedy that still plagues that region, but also of the hope for a new day of peace.”
For this concert, the CCRR and RRYC are collecting items to support Storehouse West. Storehouse West serves individuals and families who are residents of Sandoval County and meet the federal income guidelines for low-moderate income households. In this time of giving and community support, we are asking concert attendees to bring non-perishable food items such as cereal, tuna, peanut butter, etc., or household items like laundry detergent or diapers. Please visit their website for more information about the important work that they do: StorehouseWest.org
Founded back in 2013 by Board President Neal Shotwell and Executive Director Aaron Howe, the RRYC has been bringing the holiday spirit to the Rio Rancho area on the first weekend in December ever since, just in time to get everyone into the spirit of hope, joy, and thankfulness. This December marks the RRYC’s 10th Holiday Chorus Concert, now under the new and dynamic leadership of Artistic Director Colin Burdge! And to add to this joyous anniversary, the newly formed Children’s Chorus of Rio Rancho will be presenting its very first holiday concert ever! Under the experienced and enthusiastic leadership of Louise Loomis, these kids are bursting with pride to show you what they have been learning and preparing.
Tickets are be available here on our website, www.rr-cc.org, or at the door for $15 for Adults, and $12 for Military, seniors (65+) and children under 13. Each concert begins at 2:00 p.m. Doors open at 1:30 p.m.
The titles for each chorus’ set give a preview of the kind of music that we can expect to hear at this concert. The title for the CCRR’s is “Our Very First Holiday Concert Ever,” and Louise Loomis has picked out some joyous and energetic tunes, like "Chrissimas Day," (detailing the animals involvement on the festive holiday) and "Santa Makes The Rounds," (several melodies sung in a round, letting us know Santa’s itinerary). “I wanted to program music that I knew would get the new singers excited about being in a chorus, and for performing for their very first audience. All of these pieces show off what we have been learning about tone quality, rhythm and pitch accuracy, while still singing about things that brings kids happiness, like animals, baking, and Santa Claus!” says Louise Loomis, Artistic Director of the CCRR.
When programming the RRYC set Ring Bells Of Joy, Artistic Director Colin Burdge wanted to create a sound tapestry inspired by "The Ukrainian Bell Tune," more commonly known as "Carol Of The Bells." Although stylistically, the music selections range far and wide, the familiar melodic tune reappears frequently enough to give the listener a sense of continuity and story. “I was inspired by the idea of theme and variation for this concert, an exploration of the emotional impact of that familiar tune, but also of the nostalgia that comes to us this time of year in the sound of bells,” says Colin Burdge, RRYC Artistic Director. Burdge continues, “Also, since this tune has its origin in the country of Ukraine, I wanted this concert to be a reminder not only of the violence and tragedy that still plagues that region, but also of the hope for a new day of peace.”
For this concert, the CCRR and RRYC are collecting items to support Storehouse West. Storehouse West serves individuals and families who are residents of Sandoval County and meet the federal income guidelines for low-moderate income households. In this time of giving and community support, we are asking concert attendees to bring non-perishable food items such as cereal, tuna, peanut butter, etc., or household items like laundry detergent or diapers. Please visit their website for more information about the important work that they do: StorehouseWest.org
Rio Rancho Youth Chorus and Children's Chorus of Rio Rancho are programs of Rio Rancho Creative Crossroads, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to bringing community cultural arts to Rio Rancho. Since 2013, RRYC has been offering musical instruction in a welcoming, open, and fun environment. CCRR, founded in 2022, welcomes children ages 7-11 (2nd-5th grade), while RRYC welcomes youth age 11-18 (middle and high school age) of all backgrounds, styles, cultures, orientations, abilities, and identities. No auditions. All are welcome. We also have an advanced chorus, Encore, for more experienced singers. Our choruses perform throughout NM on our own and in collaboration with other arts programs on projects big and small.
Some of the sponsors of our holiday concert include the Del Norte LOV Foundation, the McCune Charitable Foundation, the Rio Rancho Community Foundation, the Enhancement Center. This project is supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts. Art Works.
Some of the sponsors of our holiday concert include the Del Norte LOV Foundation, the McCune Charitable Foundation, the Rio Rancho Community Foundation, the Enhancement Center. This project is supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts. Art Works.
