The Youth Singers of Calgary are returning to the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium this holiday season, with a brand new elf-themed Christmas show that’s all about pleasing Santa—and audiences.
Santa’s Holiday Sleighlist, which is being presented for one night only on Dec. 8, is the largest show that the Youth Singers will have put on in 2024.
More than 200 singers ranging from Grade 4 students to members of the adult divisions are taking part.
Briana Rudolfsen, production manager for the Youth Singers of Calgary, said the ability to present their talents on the biggest stage in the city means the world to these singers.
“It’s a really incredible opportunity for them. There are not a lot of local performances that get a chance to be up on the Jubilee… so it’s pretty incredible to be able to be up there,” she said.
“We like to talk about reminding performers that they’re allowed to take up that space and that the community is a space for them, even at this stage in their careers whether they want to go into the arts or not. Being on the biggest stage in Calgary is part of reminding them of how important they are to the Calgary community as a whole.”
Plans for this year’s show began in July, with work on choreography and songs in September, with hundreds of hours put on by all the Youth Singers divisions to really put something magical on the stage.
“We always say that our shows are, they’re heartwarming, they’re magic. They are the feeling of Christmas. So it is singing, dancing, it’s acting. It is a whole family kind of celebration of the heart of what makes the holidays warm and fuzzy,” said Rudolfsen.
“It’s a lovely little show about a group of elves trying to put together the best possible playlist for the big guy in red on his special night. And the conflict is about the best way to do that.”
She said that meant the singers were able to include some of the best songs that have come up in past performances over the years, along with some classic Christmas tunes, and modern hits.
“We tried to get as much variety of what any person could want on their own personal playlist. So we have the classics of the Twelve Days of Christmas, and I Saw Three Ships all the way through to Megan Trainor and Jimmy Fallon’s Wrap Me Up.”
Tickets for Santa’s Holiday Sleighlist are on sale now at www.youthsingers.org.
