MUSICIANS?in Alton will join forces again on Saturday to perform their annual ‘Wonder of Christmas’ concert at Alton Maltings.

Alton Concert Orchestra, Alton Choral Society and the female voice choir Ancora will bring plenty of festive cheer and a little sparkle during an evening of seasonal music, songs and carols.

The orchestra, under the baton of both David Budd and Chris Gardner, will start the ball rolling with a Christmas Overture. The audience will then be whirled to Winter Wonderland, enjoy a Sleigh Ride in the second half, and conclude with the first performance of concert orchestra conductor Chris Gardner’s Christmas Cantata ‘Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning’.

This is a new work dedicated to the memory of Mac Newton, who was associated with The Wonder of Christmas from the beginning, as leader of the Alton Concert Orchestra, and conductor of Ancora Female Voice Choir.

The piece tells the Christmas story using words from the bible and Christmas Carols and combines original and traditional melodies. It has been written for the combined forces of Alton Concert Orchestra, Alton Choral Society, and Ancora, with soloists, Nick Wright as narrator and a little audience participation.

Alton Choral Society, conducted by the newly appointed musical director Wendy Busby, will be singing the traditional Nature Carol and Sing Ye Birds amongst other Christmas favourites. Ancora, conducted by Lii Carr, will be delighting the audience with a diverse selection of songs, including the charming Christmas Song by Tormé and Wells. Throughout the concert, the audience will be called upon to join in and raise their voices in a selection of the best loved Christmas carols.

There will be a retiring collection for Home-Start WeyWater and the Alton Maltings Centre. charities. The concert starts at 7.30pm.