Today, the Jamaica Youth Chorale (JYC) begins its islandwide National Christmas Concert Tour Emmanuel: the Birth of a King, and will be visiting three locations. Today, they will be at the Montego Bay Civic Centre; they will perform at the St Gabriel's Anglican Church in Clarendon tomorrow and wrap up their concerts at the Sts Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Kingston on Wednesday.

The Jamaica Youth Chorale is the only group of its kind with an islandwide representation with a total of 36 young singers whose ages range from 16 to 23. One of the newest additions to the musical representations in the island, the chorale is a subsidiary of the Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network, a youth led and youth focused NGO.

"We are a very diverse group," said Ricardo McKenzie, communications and information specialist for the chorale. "We are always laughing. Over the past year, we have become more than just a performing group: we are a family."

Good music

Sandrie Dennis, a member who hails from St Mary, describes the chorale as a place of release. "It's where I can be immersed in good music. I cannot think of everything for a few hours and just sing. The relationship with other members is like that of a family, we all have a common passion and have similar goals, at least musically."

Seventeen- year-old Sherona Forrester, head girl of the Glenmuir High School, shares Dennis' sentiments. "In JYC, I have big brothers and sisters, it's a warm environment with warm people," she says. "It also provides an avenue for me to expand my musical prowess and express myself through music which I enjoy and helps in my diversity as a singer in singing different genres of music."

This concert series is the second for the group. The first, Ancestor's Voices, was a collection of spirituals and was presented in both Montego Bay and Kingston in March of this year under the direction of principal director Gregory Simms.

"The group is growing nicely," Simms said. "The more people sing together, the better they grow together. We have improved tremendously from our last performance. I am pleased with the progress and we are just doing our best to show that Jamaican young people are eclectic and can appreciate the choral art and expression in all its forms."

This concert series will be a 90-minute presentation of the finest in choral Christmas arrangements celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ and the season in general. From popular favourites to hymns, spirituals and Jamaican folk music, the show promises to be great entertainment for the family just before Christmas Day. Performance pieces will include original arrangements from Simms, members of the chorale as well as by famed musician Dr Kathy Brown who will also be on tour with the group.

"This concert series is for everyone, students and adults and just anyone interested in Christmas music and the joy that comes with it," said Kadeem Gray, associate marketing director and member of the group who is from St James.

The chorale has performed at state functions, such as the Musgrave Awards, the church services for the National Independence Day and for the recognition of the Jamaican athletes' performance in Berlin this year. They have also done several televised and other performances.

Simms invites Jamaica to come and join the group as they continue to grow; "There is magic in the music of Christmas, do come and experience it with us."