t’s the most wonderful time of the year! Don’t you find? The stores are bustling, the craft sales are in full-swing, and the local calendar is full of upcoming concerts and shows. A Star in the East: Christmas with the Cape Breton Chorale, happening Sunday, December 7 at 2:30pm at the Church of Christ the King in Sydney, is a concert that you will not want to miss.

The Christmas concert has been a mainstay for the Cape Breton Chorale since our founding in 1973. and is always one of our favourite events. Over the years we have performed throughout the CBRM with many local musicians, including one very special year when we had the honour of participating in one of Rita MacNeil’s Christmas Specials. This year we include a nod to Rita MacNeil in our program with soloist Catherine Butler. Over the years we have collaborated with many local groups including instrumentalists, children’s choirs and local soloists. We’ve recorded two Christmas albums, a cassette in 1990 titled Christmas with the Cape Breton Chorale, and Rejoice and Sing, a CD recorded in 2006 at the former St. Andrews United Church (now the Highland Arts Theatre). Though these albums are out of print, you can hear many of the tracks live on Sunday, December 7 at the Church of Christ the King.

This year the choir will perform a selection of our favourite sacred and secular carols directed by Emma Francis, with Paula Jane Francis on the piano and organ. Emma holds a degree in piano and voice performance from Mount Allison Universtiy. She is the organist and choir director at St. Andrew’s in Sydney Mines and St. Giles in North Sydney. Emma was appointed the Assistant Director of the Cape Breton Chorale in September, 2025 and has previous experience as interim conductor with Bel Canto in New Brunswick. No stranger to choral singing, Emma has sung in choirs of all sizes and abilities her whole life. Her involvement with the Cape Breton Chorale dates back to her teenage years and she has sung under the direction of Sister Rita Clare, Rosemary McGhee, and Ryan Billington. Along with her musicality and deep understanding of the music, Emma’s direction is fueled by an infectious enthusiasm that is evident in the bright smiles of the Chorale. The Chorale is thrilled to be singing for this daughter/mother team.

In case you were worried, we haven’t forgotten about your love of singing Christmas carols. Our recent Sing-along gathering for Remembrance was a roaring success largely thanks to the enthusiastic participation of our audience. You will have several opportunities to join with us in singing familiar carols on December 7. Let’s make a joyful noise together as we ring in the season.

We hope that A Star in the East: Christmas with the Cape Breton Chorale will elicit joy, happy memories, and hope for the year to come. You will leave feeling relaxed, refreshed, and ready to take on the many demands of the season. Perhaps you will go home eager to haul out the holly, trim the tree, eat some fancy cookies, and drink some eggnog in front of the fire.

There is limited seating for this concert and we encourage you to get your tickets early. Advanced tickets are $30 and may be purchased HERE from members of the chorale, by calling (902)270-2591. Tickets will be available for $35 at the door. They make a great Christmas gift for the music lover in your life.

Info Box

• A Star in the East: Christmas with the Cape Breton Chorale, directed by Emma Francis, with Paula Jane Francis on piano and organ

• Where/When: Church of Christ the King, Sydney, December 7, 2025, 2:30pm

• Tickets: $30 available online at www.capebretonchorale.com, by calling (902)270-2591, or $35 at the door

• capebretonchorale.com

• @cbchorale

 * This article was submitted to the Cape Breton Post on November 25, 2025 but as of December 6, 2025, was not published