SUNDAY, JAN. 13, 6:30-8pm, Community in Christ Lutheran Church, 7621 Norman Island Drive, Cornelius – Learn more about singing with the North Mecklenburg Community Chorus at the 2013 Choral Season Open House. Rehearsals begin Monday, Jan. 14. Registration and more information: www.NMCchorus.org

MONDAY, JAN. 14, 7pm, Community in Christ Lutheran Church, 7621 Norman Island Drive, Cornelius – North Mecklenburg Community Chorus begins 2013 rehearsals, continuing every Monday. See info about their open house Sunday, Jan. 13. Registration and more information: www.NMCchorus.org

SUNDAY, JAN. 20, 5pm, Community in Christ Lutheran Church, 7621 Norman Island Drive, Cornelius. Jubilation! – an interdenominational gospel choir – is looking for singers. No audition required. Rehearsals begin Sunday, Jan. 20, at 5 pm at E-mail sandy@communityinchrist.net or phone 704-892-0

North Mecklenburg Community Chorus.

The holidays are meant to be a time of joy, but for some, especially those facing financial hardships, this time can be stressful. With this in mind, and the threat of the fiscal cliff looming large in everyone’s not-so-distant future, I’d thought it would be nice to focus on some fun, cheerful, free ways to get into the holiday spirit. The North Mecklenburg Community Chorus, one  of my favorite organizations, does an excellent job of infecting the spirit with gladness and filling the ears with joyful noise. Their series of free “Season of Joy” concerts wraps up with dates Saturday and Monday.

• On Saturday, Dec. 15, at 3pm, the chorus will sing at Huntersville United Methodist Church, 14005 Stumptown Road. The show will include guest vocalist Kevin Jones, who has appeared with big names such as B.B. King, Natalie Cole, Bobby Womack, The Commodores Patti Austin, and Al Green.
•  On Monday, Dec. 17, at 7:30pm look for them at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, 100 N. Main St., Davidson.
• Additionally, their Left@25  jazz ensemble has one show left, on Friday night, Dec. 15, at Huntersville Presbyterian Church, 201 S. Old Statesville Road, Huntersville. “Swinging with Santa” begins at 7:30.

All shows are free to the public and sure to be a family hit. For more information about the North Mecklenburg Community Chorus visit their website at www.nmcchorus.org

Robin Gibson is a writer living in Cornelius. You can find her blog at http://www.robingibsonart.com/blog.html. In this new column, she’ll be offering weekend picks around the Lake Norman area.  

North Mecklenburg Community Chorus will sing 3 free concerts in December.

North Mecklenburg Community Chorus and its vocal jazz group Left@25 will give a series of free holiday concerts in the Lake Norman area in the coming weeks. The full chorus performs Dec. 10 and 15 in Huntersville and Dec. 17 in Davidson. The 8-member jazz group will sing at Christmas in Davidson this Friday night, and in Huntersville on Dec. 14. Details below.

FREE CONCERTS

Friday, Nov. 30, 7:30pm, Davidson Public Library steps, on the Village Green, Davidson – Left@25 (the NMCC jazz ensemble) presents its holiday concert “Swingin’ with Santa” as part of Christmas in Davidson. Free. Info: www.nmcchorus.org or 704-644-7368.

Left@25 vocal jazz ensemble.

Monday, Dec. 10, 7:30pm, Assurance United Methodist Church, 9700 Mount Holly-Huntersville Road, Huntersville – North Mecklenburg Community Chorus presents its annual Christmas concert “Season of Joy!” Free. Also, Dec. 15 at Huntersville United Methodist Church and Dec. 17 at Davidson College Presbyterian Church. Info: www.nmcchorus.org or 704-644-7368.

Friday, Dec. 14, 7:30pm, Huntersville Presbyterian Church, 201 S. Old Statesville Road, Huntersville – Left@25 (the NMCC jazz ensemble) presents its holiday concert “Swingin’ with Santa.” Free. Info: www.nmcchorus.org or 704-644-7368.

Saturday, Dec. 15, 3pm, Huntersville United Methodist Church, 14005 Stumptown Road, Huntersville – North Mecklenburg Community Chorus presents its annual Christmas concert “Season of Joy!” Free. Also, Dec. 10 at Assurance United Methodist Church, and Dec. 17 at Davidson College Presbyterian Church. Info: www.nmcchorus.org or 704-644-7368.

Monday, Dec. 17, 7:30pm, Davidson College Presbyterian Church, 100 N. Main St., Davidson – North Mecklenburg Community Chorus presents its annual Christmas concert “Season of Joy!” Free. Also, Dec. 15 at Huntersville United Methodist Church and Dec. 15 at Huntersville United Methodist Church. Info: www.nmcchorus.org or 704-644-7368.

Pianist Jon Nakamatsu performs at Davidson College Sept. 8.

The North Mecklenburg Community Chorus will host an open house Monday to meet singers and learn more about their programs. Meanwhile, fans of organ can join a “moveable feast” Sept. 14 in Davidson that includes a three-course dinner and short recitals at three Davidson churches. And the Concert Series at Davidson College opens up its season Sept. 8 with a performance by Van Cliburn-award winning pianist Jon Nakamatsu.

NORTH MECK CHORUS

The North Mecklenburg Chorus social will be Monday, Aug. 27, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Assurance United Methodist Church, 9700 Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road, Huntersville. Come sing and socialize. Register: http://www.nmcchorus.org/. First rehearsal of the fall, Sept. 10.

MOVEABLE FEAST AND ORGAN RECITALS

The public is invited to an “Organ at Davidson” moveable feast and recital on Friday, Sept. 14. The Charlotte Chapter of the American Guild of Organists has arranged the event, which will include a progressive dinner and short recitals at three Davidson churches. It will begin at 6 p.m. with appetizers and music at Davidson United Methodist Church, followed by a main course and music at Davidson College Presbyterian Church and dessert and music at St. Albans Episcopal Church. The cost is $12. For tickets or more information call 704-382-8623.

JON NAKAMATSU AT DAVIDSON

The Adams Foundation and Davidson College’s 2012-13 Concert Series will present pianist Jon Nakamatsu in a recital on Saturday, Sept. 8, at 8 p.m., in Tyler-Tallman Hall at Sloan Music Center, Davidson College. Cellist Alan Black joins Nakamatsu on Beethoven’s Sonata in A Major for cello and piano. Also on the program: Rameau’s “Gavotte and Variations” and Schumann’s “Carnaval, Op. 9.” For ticket information please call 704-894-2135 or visit www.davidson.edu.

If you have been singing in the chorus in the past or you plan to sing with the chorus in the future, if you enjoy watching the chorus, or you’re looking for some fun volunteer work, the chorus invites you to help.

This year’s spring show will take on a different format: The audience will watch the show sitting at round dinner tables of eight. There will be a dance floor and the audience will be invited to to dance during a few dance-dedicated songs.

This “Italian night” will include beverages home made Italian cookies during a 15-minute intermission. The chorus also plans a silent auction with items from local businesses.

“In order to make all that happen, we need volunteers,” the chorus said this week in an announcement. Specifically, they’re looking for servers, set up and take down and silent-auction managers.

Volunteers will receive one free ticket to a show. To volunteer, call 704-644-7368 or email Contact@NMCchorus.org More information also is available at www.NMCchorus.org

The Cockman Family plays Saturday in the Mooresville Concerts series.

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

In the mood to hear – or sing – some good music? The gospel-singing  Cockman Family will perform Saturday night in the Mooresville Concert Series, while singers are invited to an open house Sunday for the North Mecklenburg Community Chorus. Meanwhile, many area venues will have live music this weekend, including Summit Coffee and the Lake Norman Cottage in Davidson. Also below, news about sports, a children’s show at Armour Street Theater, the Polar Bear Ride in Davidson and a Polar Bear Plunge at the YMCA in Cornelius.

If you’d like to see some budding actors and actresses, visit the Armour Street Theatre in Davidson on Friday or Saturday. An ensemble from the Connie Company — the Davidson Community Players’ youth group — will put on a free performances of Wind in the Willows.

Want to create your own artworks? Check out Sip and Sketch at Cornelius’ Cafe Elie on Thursday night. Bring your favorite bottle of wine and your BFF’s, and they’ll supply the rest – canvas, paint, art lesson, and a light snack. Or you can check out Girls Night Out at Davidson’s Wooden Stone Gallery.

For those more athletically inclined, Davidson College’s men’s and women’s basketball teams are both in action at Belk Arena this weekend — the Wildcats men host Western Carolina on Thursday night, and the women face the Catamounts on Friday afternoon.

And if you’re an athletic glutton for punishment, the 14th-annual Polar Bear Ride will begin Saturday morning in Davidson, with 50- and 100-kilometer bike rides through northern Mecklenburg County and the Lake Norman area; and the Polar Bear Plunge — featuring a dip in the frigid waters of Lake Norman — will take place later that day at the Lake Norman YMCA in Cornelius.

These events — and more below — are in our day-by-day calendar at right. Also, at right on this page, see our movie show times listings for Our Town Cinemas.

ONGOING EVENTS

Teaching Talents exhibit, Cornelius Arts Center, behind the police station in the Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak St., Cornelius – Cornelius PARC Department and The Community Arts Project host a display and holiday sale of multimedia works from the center’s instructors, on display through Friday. Hours: Mondays to Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon. 704-896-8823.

Davidson Board of Commissioners Retreat, Thursday, 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m., at Starrette Farm, 204 Pecan Tree Lane, Statesville. Also Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m, at Town of Huntersville Rotunda Conference Room, 105 Gilead Road, Huntersville. Davidson’s newly-elected Board of Commissioners will hold an off-site retreat. The purpose is described as “team building.”

Wind in the Willows, 7 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, Armour Street Theatre, 307 Armour St., Davidson. Free performance by an ensemble of students from the Connie Company, the Davidson Community Players’ youth company. Information: Visit www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org.

THURSDAY, JAN. 12

North Meck Senior Center Grand Opening, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., North Mecklenburg Senior Center, Solid Rock Christian Church, 16601 Old Statesville Road (N.C. 115), Huntersville. Grand opening for the senior center in its new home. Activities all day, with ribbon cutting at noon. Information: Call 704-875-1270.

Cabarrus Food Policy Council, 6:30-8 p.m., Cabarrus Governmental Center, 65 Church St. SE, Concord. Cabarrus County Food Policy Council meeting. Agenda includes goals for 2012, council structure and 2012 retreat planning. Info, call Aaron Newton at 704-920-2206.

Attracting Wild Birds to Your Yard, 7 p.m., Mooresville Public Library, 304 S. Main St., Mooresville. The Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists will host a program by Joe Kaesten, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Huntersville, on the right foods, bird houses and bird baths to use to create a backyard bird habitat. Information: Visit www.lakenormanwildlife.org or call 704-877-4788.

Davidson men’s basketball vs. Western Carolina, 7 p.m., Belk Arena, Davidson College. The Wildcats’ men’s basketball team puts their undefeated Southern Conference record on the line against Western Carolina. See a preview and the latest Southern Conference standings in Sports.

Home Safety Seminar, 7 p.m., Cornelius Police Department, 21440 Catawba Ave., Cornelius. Officials with the Cornelius PD will hold a seminar on “Keeping Your Home Safe When You Are Away,” which will share tips on keeping your home secure during the holiday and travel seasons. Residents planning on attending the seminar are asked to RSVP either by emailing events@corneliuspd.org or by calling 704-892-1363.

Sip and Sketch, 7 p.m., Cafe Elie, 20700 N. Main St., Suite 110, Cornelius. A new twist on “Ladies Night Out.” Bring your favorite bottle of wine and your BFF’s, and we’ll supply the rest – canvas, paint, art lesson, and a lite snack. Enjoy a creative and relaxing evening with your friends, at the end of the class, you will leave with a beautiful painting worthy of display in your own home. Cost: $50 per person, discounts available for large groups and active Cafe Elie students. Information-reservations: Call 704-896-9766.

Live music at Summit Coffee, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St., Davidson – Live music: The Velcrows Info: 704-895-9090.

FRIDAY, JAN. 13

Davidson women’s basketball vs. Western Carolina, 12 p.m., Belk Arena, Davidson College. The Wildcats’ women’s basketball team hosts Western Carolina in a Southern Conference game.

Girls Night Out at Wooden Stone Gallery, 4-6 p.m., Wooden Stone Gallery, 445 S. Main St., Davidson. Event features wine tasting (with a complimentary wine glass) and a mini-workshop. Cost: $12 per person, reservations required. Information-reservations: Email jinny@woodenstonegallery.com or call 704-892-1449.

Freckled Dog Pub and live music at Summit Coffee, 5-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St., Davidson – Live music: Freckled Dog Pub 5-9 p.m., followed by Mike Strauss Trio, 8-11 p.m. Info: 704-895-9090.

Live music at The Brickhouse, 8:30 p.m. Brickhouse Tavern, 209 Delburg St., Davidson – Live music with . Info: 704-987-2022 or brickhousetavern.com.

SATURDAY, JAN. 14

Polar Bear Ride, 8:30 a.m., Ingersoll-Rand, Beaty Street, Davidson. The 14th-annual Polar Bear Ride held by the Rocky River Road Club, which takes bicycle riders on 50- and 100-kilometer rides through the north Mecklenburg-Lake Norman area. A portion of the event’s proceeds will go to the Ada Jenkins Center in Davidson. Ride will begin at 10 a.m. Cost: $20 before Jan. 14, $25 on day of ride. Registration, waivers, route sheets and directions available online at www.rockyriverroadclub.org, or by calling 704-896-3331.

Kannapolis E-Cycling Day, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., old Kannapolis Post Office, Vance Street and Dale Earnhardt Boulevard, Kannapolis. Drop off old electronic items for recycling, including TVs, computers, stereos, and more. Also on site: Paper-shredding service. Electronics are now banned from N.C. landfills. See a list of recyclable items (PDF).

Davidson Farmer’s Market, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., downtown Davidson, next to Town Hall. Davidson Farmer’s Market winter tailgate market. Local farmers and vendors selling meats, produce, dairy products, baked goods, and other items. Runs second and fourth Saturdays January through March. Information: Visit www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org.

Polar Bear Plunge, 11 a.m., Lake Norman YMCA, 21300 Davidson St., Cornelius. The Lake Norman YMCA will hold its inaugural Polar Bear Plunge fundraiser to support the YMCA’s programs. The event begins with the plunge into Lake Cornelius, followed by lunch by Chick-Fil-A, music, a waterfront bonfire and dessert by Sweetly Yours Cake Botique. Cost: $20 per person through Jan. 13, participants receive a long-sleeved T-shirt. Information-registration: Call 704-716-4400.

Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, 11 a.m., North Tryon Street, downtown Charlotte. The annual parade heads south on Tryon, to 9th Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Note: Some CATS bus routes affected. Details: RideTransit.org.

Wine Tasting and Live Music at LKN Cottage, 6-9 p.m., Lake Norman Cottage, 200 A North Harbor Place, Davidson. Wine from California and a light three-course meal. $20 per person. Live music DoubleDay Band from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Call for reservations: 704-237-3629.

The Cockmans, 7 p.m., Joe Knox Auditorium, Charles Mack Citizen Center, 215 N. Main St., Mooresville. Mooresville Concerts presents The Cockman Family in a concert of gospel music for all ages. A reception follows. Tickets $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for children under 10. Season passes are $45. Tickets available at the Recreation Department office, 418 Carpenter Ave., by calling 704-663-7026, or online at www.MooresvilleRecreation.org.

Live music at Summit Coffee, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St., Davidson – Live music: Steve Simpson and Herschel Lee Browne Info: 704-895-9090.

SUNDAY, JAN. 15

DCPC Covenant Class, 9:45 a.m., Room B, Congregation House, Davidson College Presbyterian Church, downtown Davidson. George Ramsey, Kristen Herrington professor emeritus of religion at Presbyterian College, will lead four sessions on the artistry of Biblical storytellers. Information: Call 704-892-5641.

Hopewell Presbyterian Church 250th Celebration Kickoff, 11 a.m., Hopewell Presbyterian Church, 10500 Beaties Ford Road, Huntersville. Hopewell Presbyterian Church begins a year-long celebration of its 250th anniversary with a kick-off service and luncheon. Guest speaker is the Rev. Bob Wise. Information: Visit www.hopewellpresbyterian.com.

North Meck Community Chorus Open House, 6 p.m., Wedgewood North Clubhouse, 8925 Babbitt Way, Charlotte. The North Mecklenburg Community Chorus will hold an open house leading into the start of its spring performance season. Information: Visit www.nmcchorus.org.

HAVE NEWS?

To have your event listed in our calendars, please send to listings@davidsonnews.net. Our events calendars appear on both DavidsonNews.net and CorneliusNews.net.