With one more weekend before Christmas, there is still a good assortment of musical events special for the occasion that reflect the talent of the community.

Schools holiday concerts
Arlington High Schools Jazzmine shares the Lights of Christmas Joyland Concert Hall stage with Laurie Breons Choir on Fire, Thursday, Dec. 14. Choir on Fire performs at 6 and
8 p.m. and Jazzmine will perform at 7 and 9 p.m., at Warm Beach Camp.
At the same time, the AHS bands are offering their holiday concert at the Arlington High School and the Marysville-Pilchuck High School bands are also offering their Christmas concert starting 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 14.

Fake Santa in Lakewood
Lakewood High School Theatre Guild postponed its Dec. 8 special holiday performance to Saturday, Dec. 16, so if you missed it last week theres still a chance to visit Santa Claus and see some fun entertainment in the high school theater at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, with fun, family-oriented holiday skits and Santa will be there too, ready for photos at 6:15 p.m. and again after the show. A CD of your pictures will be available for purchase that night and refreshments will be served at intermission. Admission is $3 per person.

Our Saviors Christmas
Our Saviors Lutheran Church Choir welcomes all to their Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at 616 Highland Dr., in Arlington. Arranged and directed by Laurie Breon, the program, And the Word Was God offers musical selections performed by the choir with instrumental back-up, and readings of scripture. For information call the church 360-435-8921.

Arlington School of Dance
Night before Christmas
Arlington School of Dance relives the classic tale, The Night Before Christmas in dance with a special surprise guest narrator Rick Lewis, the father of dancer Ryan Lewis, telling the story, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 16 at the old AHS auditorium, 135 S. French St., in Arlington. Refreshments will be served and admission is $2 for anyone over five years old. For information call 360-435-4541.



Navy Band Northwest
presents holiday concerts
EVERETT The Commander of Navy Region Northwest has three more holiday concerts that will be presented before Christmas arrives, one in Everett at 3 p.m., Sunday,
Dec. 17, at the Everett Performing Arts Center and one in Seattle, at
7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 15, at the University of Washington Kane Hall 130 and one last one at 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 18, Bremerton High School in Bremerton. The program, Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year is a holiday music extravaganza featuring the Navy Band Northwest. The U.S. Marines will also be present at all concerts to collect toys for their Toys for Tots program, so dont forget to bring an unwrapped toy to donate.
Admission is free and guests will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis at the concerts in Seattle, but in Everett, free tickets are required for admission due to limited seating. To acquire free tickets for that performance call the Everett Performing Arts Center box office at 425-257-8600 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, or call Kate Reardon at the Mayors office at 425-257-8687.
Northwest Ballet Theatre presents The Nutcracker
Bellingham The Northwest Ballet Theatre will open its eighth season with its performances of Tchaikovskys holiday favorite, The Nutcracker Dec. 16 – 17 at Mount Baker Theatre in Bellingham and Dec. 19 – 20 at McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon.
Jordan Donahu dances as Clara and the role of Cavalier will be danced by Jesse Thibodeaux. They will be supported by a cast of about 100 dancers.
Tickets are $15-$25 with discounts for children and seniors at Mount Baker Theatre, 360-734-6080 or online at www.mountbakertheatre.com and for the McIntyre Hall performances at 360-416-7727 or online at www.mcintyrehall.org.
Artistic director John Bishop is planning two more classical works in 2007 and the NBT will host the first Northwest Ballet Festival with classical, modern and jazz repertoire choreographed by Mr. Bishop and others. For information about the schools year-round program with classes in ballet, modern, jazz, tap, pilates and hip hop at the Anacortes and Bellingham schools call 360-714-1246.
Skagit Symphony joined by Diane Johnson
MOUNT VERNON The Skagit Symphony reunites with Skagit Valleys favorite soprano Diane Johnson for one more holiday concert at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 16, at McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon. Johnson will be accompanied by members of the Skagit Valley College Choir performing a Pifa from Handels Messiah, Mozarts Regina Coeli, Tchaikovskys Trepak and Christmas spirituals. For information and tickets see the symphonys Web site at www.SkagitSymphony.com, McIntrye Hall Web site at www.McIntyreHall.org or call the McIntyre Hall box office at 866-624-6897.
Johnsons musical career started when she sang her first solo at the age of 6. She studied music at the University of California at Riverside meeting her voice teacher of 12 years, Gwendolyn Lytle. Professor Lytle infused in Diane a love for the spiritual and oratorio.
Since moving to Washington state, Diane has performed with the Skagit, Everett and Whatcom symphonies, the Whatcom Chorale, the Skagit Valley Chorale, the Everett Chorale and the Skagit Community Band. Diane is currently chair of the music department at Skagit Valley College and conductor of the Showcase Singers and the Concert Choir.

Celtic Yuletide
Lincoln Theatre presents its annual holiday tradition, Celtic Yuletide with the Boulding Family, of Ollala, Wash., and friends offering a grand tapestry of Celtic music with dance, verse and singing at
3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 17. Ticket are $15 $19
The Lincoln Theatre is located at 712 S. First St., in downtown Mount Vernon.?For more information call 360-336-8955 or 877-754-6284 toll free.

Overman Family releases Christmas CD
The Overman Family Orchestra will perform at several locations over the next couple of weeks.
2:15, Dec. 17, at Cascade Senior Living, 8400 207th PL NE, Arlington
6 p.m., Dec. 17, at Cascade Christian Reform Church, 13908 51st Ave NE, Shoultes Rd. in Marysville
7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 20, at First Covenant Church, 400 E. PIke, in Seattle
8:30 and 11 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 24, at Atonement Free Lutheran, 6905 172nd St. NE., Arlington, during regular church services.
The family offers instrumental and vocal Christmas carols, with violins, cello, guitar and flute. The family of 10, welcome two who are flying in from California. Their recently released Christmas CD will be available at the performances. An Overman Family Christmas, which they have been working on for a year, includes Christmas classics by Vaughn Williams, Rutter and Wilcox, Corellis Christmas concerto, and some orginal works from the family, including an original piano piece by Analisa and Kens compilation of several versions of Away in the Manger.
You can see shepherds in your minds eye, said Kens wife, Marilyn Jane Overman.