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37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In: photos

By
Robert Rowat

The 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In took place Sunday, Dec. 11, with capacity crowds at the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul and — via video simulcast — the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts' Bourgie Concert Hall.

Every year since 1980, Montrealers have come out in great numbers to sing their favourite Christmas carols with the Choir of the Church and St. Andrew and St. Paul in stirring arrangements for brass, percussion and organ. This year's lineup also included tenor soloist John Tessier from Edmonton. The organist and director of music was Jonathan Oldengarm; the conductor was Jean-Sébastien Vallée.

For many, this concert marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Montreal. The photos below explain why.


Listen to the 2016 CBC Christmas Sing-In


The public started lining up before 12 p.m. to receive an admission bracelet for the 3 p.m. concert. They were greeted by a smiling Jennifer Allen from CBC Montreal.

CBC Montreal's Jennifer Allen distributes admission bracelets to people lining up to attend the CBC Christmas Sing-In.

CBC Montreal's Julie Melanson surveyed the growing lineup of Sing-In fans hoping to attend the concert.

CBC Montreal's Julie Melanson surveys the line up prior to the start of the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

Ceebee was on hand to entertain the crowd and distract them from the cold.

Ceebee entertains the people lining up for the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

Ceebee even gave out free hugs.

Ceebee gives out free hugs at the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

Singers from a cappella vocal ensembles Soulstice and Effusion sang for the public.

Singers from Soulstice and Effusion entertained the people lining up for the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

Once inside, members of the public were handed a program containing the words to the audience carols.

Ushers hand out programs at the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

Ben Heppner (CBC Radio 2) and Debra Arbec (CBC Montreal News) greeted the audience.

Ben Heppner and Debra Arbec greet the crowd at the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

Some people were seasonally attired.

Some people were seasonally attired for the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In in Montreal.

Rev. Glenn Chestnutt, the newly appointed minister of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, welcomed the audience. This was Chestnutt's first CBC Christmas Sing-In, not to mention his first Montreal winter.

Rev. Glenn Chestnutt from the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul addresses the public at the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

Leanne Bayer, executive director of West Island Community Shares, told the audience about her organization, which raises funds for 40 different non-profit groups on the West Island of Montreal.

Leanne Bayer, executive director of West Island Community Shares, addresses the crowd at the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

Conductor Vallée (right) and organist Oldengarm spent 15 minutes coaching the audience on good carol-singing technique.

Jean-Sébastien Vallée, right, and Jonathan Oldengarm prepare the audience prior to the start of the 2016 CBC Christmas Sing-In.

While playing the Casavant organ at the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, Oldengarm followed the conductor's gestures using a rearview mirror.

Organist Jonathan Oldengarm follows the conductor's cues using a rear-view mirror at the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

Vallée used his brand new selfie stick to take a group photo with the audience at the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul.

Conductor Jean-Sébastien Vallée takes a group selfie at the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

In neighbouring Bourgie Concert Hall, conductor Francis Choinière also snapped a selfie with the audience.

Conductor Francis Choinière poses for a selfie with the audience at Bourgie Concert Hall prior to the start of the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

The altos of the choir posed for a selfie with conductor Vallée, who is clearly very excited with his new selfie stick.

Conductor Jean-Sébastien Vallée takes a selfie with the altos of the Choir of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul moments before the start of the 2016 CBC Christmas Sing-In.

Percussionist Mark Morton (left) and CBC recording technician Pierre Lévesque discussed some last-minute adjustments.

CBC recording technician Pierre Lévèsque, right, and percussionist Mark Morton make some final adjustments before the start of the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

The choir advanced down the side aisle of the church.

Choristers arrive for the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In in Montreal.

In the narthex, the members of the choir lit their candles.

Choristers light their candles moments before the start of the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

A hush fell over the audience moments before the choir began its candlelight procession.

The candlelight procession at the 2016 CBC Christmas Sing-In is about to begin.

The candlelight procession was a moment of quiet magic.

'O come, O come, Emmanuel,' performed by the Choir of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul at the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

"O come, O come, Emmanuel."

Choristers advance down the centre aisle of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul in Montreal at the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

The Sing-In brass and percussion ensemble accompanied the choir for most of the audience carols.

A brass ensemble accompanies the carols at the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

Even the balcony at the back of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul was filled to capacity.

Montrealers add their voices to the 2016 CBC Christmas Sing-In.

CBC sound engineer Dominic Beaudoin kept his cool while recording the concert.

Recording engineer Dominic Beaudoin adjusts the sound levels during the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

An innovation this year: the CBC Christmas Sing-In was webcast on Facebook. CBC Montreal's Molly Kohli was in charge of that.

CBC Montreal's Molly Kohli monitors the Facebook Live video feed of the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

The pride of Edmonton, tenor John Tessier got into the zone before going onstage to sing.

Tenor John Tessier awaits his cue to go onstage at the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

"Minuit, chrétiens."

Tenor John Tessier performs with the Choir of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul in Montreal.

Backstage, Chris Maskell (foreground) assisted CBC's Julie Lapierre with the video mix.

Backstage, Chris Maskell (foreground) assisted Julie Lapierre in creating the video feed of the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

The public came to sing, and sing they did.

The public came to the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In to sing, and sing they did.

When they weren't singing along, the audience listened with rapt attention while the Choir of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul performed a number of selections.

When they weren't singing along, the audience listened with rapt attention to the Choir of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul.

"In the bleak midwinter."

The Choir of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul in Montreal performs at the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

Over $9,000 was raised to support West Island Community Shares.

Over $9K was raised at the CBC Christmas Sing-In for West Island Community Shares.

CBC camera operator Denis Christopherson got the best shots for the video simulcast.

CBC camera operator Denis Christopherson films the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

The audience in neighbouring Bourgie Concert Hall experienced the CBC Christmas Sing-In from a unique perspective, with the help of McGill University's Schulich Singers and conductor Choinière.

The public in Bourgie Hall enjoy the CBC Christmas Sing-In from a unique perspective.

"Joy to the world."

Montrealers add their voices to the 2016 CBC Christmas Sing-In.

The choir was all smiles as they proceeded out of the church at the end of the concert.

The choir leaves the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul following the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

As a parting gift, everyone in the audience received a CBC-themed shortbread cookie. Merry Christmas!

Everyone received a CBC-themes shortbread cookie as they left the 37th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In.

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