In From the Cold Christmas Concert to be Livestreamed This Year

The 22nd Annual In From the Cold Christmas concert will be livestreamed from St. James United Church on Dec. 11 at 8 p.m.

File Photo.

The annual concert has been a mainstay of the Peterborough Christmas season since its inception in 2000, having raised over $150,000 for the YES Shelter of Peterborough over the years.

Last year’s audio retrospective, broadcast on Trent Radio, raised a record total of almost $13,000.00 through an online Canada Helps fundraiser.

“A year ago I never would have guessed that, this year, we would not be back at the Market Hall performing to a full house, once again,” said concert organizer, John Hoffman. “But, although things are much better with the pandemic, there were still some uncertainties around safety when we had to make decisions about staging the concert.”

Given the livestreaming possibilities that were developed by the St. James Players over the past 20 months, Hoffman and his colleagues decided to take the show online for this year. Performers will be playing live at the church, and people can watch the concert on the internet by going to stjamesplayers.ca/live

In From the Cold 2021 will feature a mix of traditional, Celtic and contemporary Christmas and winter songs performed by perennial In From the Cold hosted folk band Carried Away and their musical friend Curtis Driedger. What’s different this year that, for the first time, the Convivio Chorus will not be part of the show.

“We just couldn’t be certain enough about everyone’s safety and comfort,” explains Hoffman.

Driedger will not be appearing as Enrique “Roy” Claveer, but rather as a member of The McDonnel St. Gospel Quartet, who will render some Christmas songs in spirited country gospel style.

“This concert creates a warm and supported feeling for all of us at the YES Shelter for Youth and Families,” said Brooke Erickson, Development Lead at YES. “People experiencing homelessness in Peterborough can sometimes feel forgotten by their community. In From the Cold is an annual reminder that Peterborough is a city that comes together in support of their neighbours that are profoundly struggling.”

Tickets will not be sold for this event. The livestream is available free-of-charge but viewers and supporters are encouraged to donate to the In From the Cold fundraiser for YES at the following link when they enjoy the show.

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/in-from-the-cold-peterborough-2021/

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