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December 8, 2005 Section: CALIENTE Page: F6 TCA choir focused on Christmas Cathalena E. Burch, ARIZONA DAILY STAR For their first holiday outing, the year-old Tucson Chamber Artists decided not to host a holiday concert.

The 22-voice-strong chamber choir is putting on a Christmas concert. "We thought that we would be overtly Christmas," said Eric Holtan, the group's music director. "We're going to sing Christmas carols. We're doing the traditional Christmas texts." "A Rose Blooms in the Desert: Christmas With TCA" weaves beloved Christmas carols and texts into a rose metaphor to tell the story of Jesus' birth. The audience will likely find themselves singing along to carols that fit the theme, such as "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming." Organist Jeffrey Campbell will accompany the choir on several numbers; much of the concert, though, will be a capella. The program includes Rachmaninoff's "Rejoice, O Virgin" and Daniel Pinkham's "Christmas Cantata". Concerts take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 2450 E. Fort Lowell Road; and 2 p.m. Sunday at Dove of Peace Lutheran Church, 665 W. Roller Coaster Road. Tickets are $12, $5 for students at the door. 370-8016.

Copyright 2005 The Arizona Daily Star