Over 100 residents and out-of-town visitors attended the Christmas with Arcady event at St. Andrew’s United Church on Saturday, November 29, 2025.
The concert showcased around 50 performers, including some of Arcady’s past and present Emerging Artist soloists, its professional and youth choruses, and string ensemble.
Prior to the performance, Larry Brock, MP for Brantford–Brant South–Six Nations, welcomed the audience and presented Ronald Beckett, Arcady’s founder and artistic director-composer, with a certificate of recognition.
Afterwards, Beckett provided some background information on his Emerging Artists program and the ensemble on stage.
“What makes Arcady unique is that there are all these levels [of artists] performing together in a system of mentoring. We have people here of all ages, from the very young to the very experienced,” he said. “One of the great things is that when we started the Emerging Artists program many years ago, [those who started out in the program] remained, and then they became the mentors. So they pass on that knowledge and then perform alongside the new, and they in turn, do the same and it’s a wonderful system.”
The first half of the program, which featured Camille Saint-Saëns’ Christmas Oratorio, Op. 12, then officially got underway. The work, which is divided into ten movements, tells the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.
The 35-minute piece highlighted each of the soloists, members of the string ensemble and the organist, as well as the entirety of the group, allowing them to shine through the varied movements of work.
Following the first act, many attendees spent the intermission discussing the intricacies of the performance before settling in for the second half of the program.
The second set featured an array of Beckett’s festive arrangements of well known holiday tunes such as Stille Nacht, Ding Dong! Merrily on High, Adeste Fideles, Joy to the World.
The program also included the premiere of Beckett’s arrangement of the traditional French carol Noël Nouvelet, as well as the premiere of King Witlaf’s Drinking-Horn, which was based on a 1848 poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Ending the overall performance with In Dulci Jubilo, the audience rose to their feet for a standing ovation.
Christine Scebeck, who has seen several Arcady concerts in the past, said she thought it was absolutely wonderful.
“The voices on some of those soloists, especially the ladies, were just exquisite,” she said. “I don’t think I could pick a favourite but when that young lady Sophia sang Stille Nacht…oh my goodness, it was just beautiful. I thought the children were so good too and I have to say, having the accompaniment of all the instruments was just wonderful. I really enjoyed it.”
Alanna Townsend, who brought along her son Hunter Townsend, said they traveled from Port Burwell to see the show.
“I’ve seen Arcady perform before, but this is the first time I’ve seen Christmas with Arcady and it was beautiful,” said Alanna. “I didn’t know that some of it was going to be in different languages, but Hunter pointed out that they had the translation on the screen and so we took some notes.”
“I loved it,” added Hunter.
When asked if they had any particular favourites from the night, Hunster said he enjoyed Stille Nacht, while Alanna said she liked In Dulci Jubilo, where her friend, Katie Walshaw, did the solo.
The mother also added she would be happy to see another Arcady performance and was thinking of attending their upcoming performance of Handel’s Messiah in Aylmer on December 5.
“Everything Ron does with this group is amazing so I would definitely see another,” said Alanna.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
