The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

African music: Andrew L l o y d W hrhen e the 150 members of the Vancouver Bach Choir file onto the stage of the Orpheum for the opening night of Handel's Messiah this December, they w i l l be walking in the footsteps of the founding members of the choir that gave its first concert in "The New Orpheum Theatre" in December, 1930. Sixty-five years later, the choir is amongst the most vital and vibrant arts organizations in Vancouver. The choir members all have extensive musical training and a real drive to perform. Each year the choir performs up to 20 times, including its five-concert series at the Orpheum and performances with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and for the C B C . Almost one-third of the choir members are from across the Lower Webber's Requiem and Mahler's Eighth Symphony. Symphony of a Thousand. At the other end of the scale, the choir has a lot of experience performing the classics of choral music. It have performed Handel's Messiah many times for live audiences and for national broadcasting (the first in 1934) and appeared in a film of Messiah music which has been shown across Canada almost every Christmas since 1980. This year the Vancouver Bach Choir will perform the Messiah at the Orpheum, accompanied by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and four brilliant soloists: Paul Robinson, bass; Andrew K i n g , tenor; Janet Obermeyer. soprano: and Daniel Taylor, countertenor. On Dec. 17 the choir w i l l invite the Orpheum's audience-all 3,000 of them-to join in for their annual Sing A l o n g performance of the Messiah. Attending a performance of Handel's Messiah at Christmas-time is an unforgettable experience as well as a cherished holiday tradition. For ticket information call Ticketmaster at 280-3311. Additionally, three satellite galleries w i l l be launched in three districts of North Vancouver Public Libraries: Capuano. Lynn Valley and Park Gate. holidays G centennial Theatre also has a "big three" in its line-up for special holiday events. Starting the season in the proper holiday spirit is the Seymour Heights Dance School presenting its youth ballet in the Nutcracker on Dec. 10 in both a matinee and evening performance. Tickets available through the school at 929-6060. " M r . M u s i c B o x Dancer" pianist frank M i l l s w i l l be at the theatre on Dec. 16 for a special evening of holiday music. The Vancouver Cantata Singers w i l l be rounding out the holiday shows on Dec. 22. The beautifully blended voices of the choir singing a cappella w i l l perform a wide range of Christmas music. Tickets for both musical shows are available at 984-4484. Mainland-some from as far away as Bruce Pu//an (above), music director, Vancouver Bach Choir Mission. The camaraderie in the choir is fostered by the shared experience of singing with full orchestra, fabulous soloists and with world-famous conductors on the concert stage. In the last 65 years, the choir has sung with Bruno Walter, Zubin Mehta and Frank Mills (right) is appearing at Centennial Theatre for a special Christmas Concert on Dec. 16. Andrew Davies. Touring nationally and internationally has added to the choir's cohesive ness. A highlight for the touring choir was singing as the chorus far Aida in an opera production in Tokyo. The choir's innovative stamp has also made it responsible for first performances of exciting choral music in Vancouver, especially in the last decade under present music director, Bruce Pullan. These choral pieces include David Fanshawe's African Sam ins with an orchestra, electric guitar, a rock group and tapes of Lhe T h « British C o l u m b i a B o y s ' Choir is performing a special Christmas concert with the Chor Leoni Men's Choir on Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. at St. Andrew's-Wesley Church in Vancouver and Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. at West Vancouver United Church. things come in three's G food , over the holiday season at the North Vancouver Arts C o u n c i l . Three exhibition spaces w i l l feature three group shows. A t the District Hall (355 W Queens Rd.) and the C i v i c Hall ( 141 West 14th St.) the staff w i l l exhibit its art, and at the Outer Space (333 Chesterfield Ave.) a teen show about violence will be presented by the North Shore Neighbourhood House as part of "Together Against Violence" month. H A P P Y H O L I D A Y S from Arts Alive\ Note: One of Santa's helpers told us to watch for the Christmas children's show at Presentation House Theatre. Call 986-1351 for more information.