“Music washes away from the soul, the dust of everyday life.”

There are many great quotes associated with music, but that is one of my favourites.

As the Christmas season is in full-on, crazy overdrive mode, I find myself needing to find some time of my own and seek music to wash away some of that dust. Much of my time since I retired has been devoted to the Wallaceburg Concert Band and other music interests, but as much as I enjoy it, it eventually starts to wear me down and there is no busier time of year for most amateur musicians than Christmas time. Everyone, and every group wants a piece of you.

For many years, my escape has been found in choosing a few great Christmas concerts to take in as an audience member instead of being the organizer. It is just so relaxing to enter a concert hall, find my seat, relax and be entertained.

Being an avid Christmas music collector, there have been artists and works that I’ve sought-out to take in live through the years.

I’ve attended several Andy Williams Christmas shows before he passed away, Johnny Mathis, the Oak Ridge Boys, Kenny Rogers, the Brian Setzer Orchestra, performances of the Nutcracker, many concerts in Chatham by Orchestra London (before it folded), Quartette right here in Wallaceburg, Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant.

Every one of those artists were great in their own unique way but last Friday I attended a concert that topped anything I have ever seen live. Clare and I attended Orchestra Hall in Detroit to see and hear an acapella group by the name of Voctave.

Voctave is an eleven-piece ensemble of some of the greatest voices on the planet, most of whom have had an........

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