By Gwen Davis

ChoralSounds Northwest’s Christmas concert is back this holiday season, with a fresh new director and a frolicsome consortium of musical pieces that will sweep Burienites away.

Entitled “Angels Watching,” the concert centers on the story of a couple’s journey from their first date to the birth of their child. The music in the first act is combined with vignettes, videography and contemporary dance.

ChoralSounds has undergone transformation within the past year. The new artistic director, Brian J. Winnie has stepped up the chorus’ game this season and has received outstanding reviews from chorus members.

“This new conductor is absolutely brilliant,” said Paul Bauer, general manager of ChoralSounds Northwest. “The chorus has never sounded better. The audience will be surprised at the new found focus on musical excellence.”

Other members agreed.

“Everyone’s really excited about the new director and a lot of things he’s brought with him,” said another Burien performer Ron Heimgartner, base singer who has been with the choir for 12 years. “He’s teaching us technique, voice control and how to project our sound better.”

The performance will include many well-loved songs.

In Act One, the story begins with the lonely man and woman meeting each other, falling in love, getting married and then having a child together. Songs include “Kumbaya,” “Keep Your Lamps,” “Sure on this Shining Night” and “Christmas Lullaby.”

Act Two is a celebration of the couple’s first Christmas united. Songs include “Betehemu,” “Sing We Now of Christmas,” “I Believe in Father Christmas,” and “Holy, Holy Night.”

The chorus will perform twice, once on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and once on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $15-25.

Any youth 17 or younger will get in free with a paid adult. CSN is the only chorus in the region that offers this kind of deal for youth, according to Bauer.

The chorus hopes to sell between 800-900 tickets between the two showings.

People of all ages are guaranteed to be entertained.

“The performance is very family-friendly,” Winter said. “Parents can bring their kids and won’t be embarrassed if they bring their elderly parents or grandparents. It’s great for the whole family.”

To order tickets, visit the Northwest Associated Arts website at nwassociatedarts.org. To order by phone, call the box office at 206-246-6040. Showings will be held at the Highline Performing Arts Center, 401 S. 152nd St.