Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The snow is deep and we are feeling both the pleasures and the demands of the season; this may explain my recent negligence in providing updates.

Catching Up
Looking back over the past month or so, I would like to mention the success of Anne Hurley's CD launch concert on November 26 (see previous entry). Despite a last-minute panic when a local radio station's signal started blaring through the sound system, everything was ready in time. It was a beautiful evening highlighting Anne's Christmas music. If you missed it, why not order her CD?

I did some storytelling at Parsifal School's Winter Fair on November 26 in the afternoon; "The King and the Flea" was very popular among the young listeners, especially when His Majesty received a bite on the bum!

December 3 was the annual "Festive Goose" concert at the 4th Stage of the NAC (see entry for October 20 below). With the help of soprano Lauren McGee and violinist Margot Lange, I performed two original songs, "In The Bitter Wintertide" and "Jesus Our Emmanuel." As always it was a fun concert, with seasonal songs of every style from a dozen or so Ottawa songwriters.

On December 10, I joined Anne Hurley, Karen Lahaise, Margot Lange and Debra Scarpelli at Canadian Martyrs Chruch for a benefit performance for the Youville Centre.

Looking Ahead
Those of you in the Kingston area, please mark your calendars for the January 21 concert of Kingston’s "Open Voices" choir . This event features yours truly as Guest Performer. The choir will perform three of my songs as part of their repertoire for the evening, and I’ll do some songs and stories on my own. Time: 7:30 pm. Place: McArthur Hall Auditorium , Queen'sUniversity West Campus.

Looking farther ahead, I will be sharing the stage for a benefit concert on March 18 in Ottawa. More details to follow!

Wishing you a healthy, peaceful, joyous Christmas and a fulfilling New Year!

Tom