Cara Lieurance

Kalamazoo Children's Chorus director Taylor Gudbrandson says she will carry one primary lesson of the COVID-19 into the future: the chorus is more than a music program; it is a community much like a family. Even without in-person rehearsals, the ties between the choristers have grown as they prepare group and solo pieces for concerts to share online. The most recent is the holiday cabaret "Messages of Hope and Joy," which can be streamed through Jan 31.

Gudbrandson shares specifics on some of the challenges facing the choir in 2021, including a shortfall in funds which they hope to offset with a fund drive ending in March. Donations can be made at the Kalamazoo Children's Chorus website.

Dr. Tom Evans, director of the Kalamazoo Concert Band, brought some holiday cheer to the airwaves as he joined Cara Lieurance to play highlights from the last four years of holiday concerts by the band: 2019's "Unwrap the Season" with Gold Company; 2018's "A Holiday Spectacular" with The Watters Brothers; 2017's "A Joyful Christmas" with Jim Brickman," and 2016's "Snow Place Like Home" with Karrin Allyson.

At 4 pm on Sunday, Dec 20, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra's annual Sounds of the Season concert will be streamed to households in Kalamazoo and beyond. Executive Director Jessica Mallow Gulley and Education Manager Rufus Ferguson, whose new setting of "O Come All Ye Faithful" will be premiered, talked to Cara Lieurance about how the festivities became an online event.

Rob Weiner and Jeremy Koch, two of the four founders of Farmers Alley Theatre (along with Adam Weiner and Denene Mulay Koch) join Cara Lieurance to celebrate the variety of performers, technicians, musicians, writers, director and editors who pulled together to present Home For the Holidays with Farmers Alley Theatre and Friends. It's available now through Dec 24. 

The Kalamazoo Film Society is offering another "Virtual Lobby Discussion" for film fans to discuss what they liked and didn't like about a newly released film. At 7 pm on Wednesday, Dec 16 via Zoom, the film of choice is Mank.