Island musicians, singers perform a Celtic-style cantata

The joy and hope of Christmas will be celebrated in a Celtic-styled cantata filled with carols and candlelight, narration and sparkling orchestration this weekend.

The joy and hope of Christmas will be celebrated in a Celtic-styled cantata filled with carols and candlelight, narration and sparkling orchestration this weekend.

Traditional melodies form the foundation of this festival of lights, bringing a holiday presentation by singers and instrumentalists from five Vashon churches. An orchestra comprised of Sarah Church, Karin Choo, Mary Walker, George Heidorn, Laura Cerven, Barry Cooper and Tina Parrish will accompany 27 singers, featuring soloists Gary Koch, Marita Ericksen, Matt Eggleston and Sandra Cooper. Narrators will be Rev. Kathy Morse and Steve Church on Saturday and Rev. Bjoern Meinhardt and June Langland on Sunday. Marita Ericksen and Dinah Helgeson will conduct.

Songs will include “Carols of Hope and Light,” “Longing for the Light,” “The Holy Child of Mary,” “A Celtic Noel,” “O Wondrous Night” and “Carols of Celebration.”

Performances will be at 7 p.m. Saturday at Vashon United Methodist Church and at 5 p.m. Sunday at Vashon Lutheran Church.