South Bay Singers

for Gilroy, Morgan Hill and Hollister

South Bay Singers, a 40-voice Morgan Hill based choral group under the leadership of Conductor Kathy Esteves Bates will present ‘WELCOME CHRISTMAS!’, a concert of beloved holiday music featuring timeless traditional carols to contemporary seasonal songs in joyous celebration of Christmas.

After a long and unwelcome delay, the group re-emerged on the concert stage earlier this year with Bates at the helm for their Spring Songfest and were thrilled to perform live choral music once again. “It was so exciting to stand before an audience and sing our hearts out after being closed up in our homes for so long,” said Bates, who added that she is greatly looking forward to the upcoming concerts. “While our first concert post-pandemic was terrific, when you add beloved holiday music to the mix – songs that have been the soundtrack of our Decembers for as far back as we can remember – it makes the prospect of performing ‘WELCOME CHRISTMAS!’ all the more thrilling!”

Bates, a magna cum laude graduate of San Jose State University, spent three decades in southern California working as a writer, actress, pianist and choral conductor before happily returning to the South Bay in 2016. “While I loved my time down south I truly missed family and friends, as well as the beauty and sense of community here. I always had in mind that I would move back home, back to where my heart was all those years. I’m so glad I did.”

Bates joined the group as a choir member in 2018 and highlights the camaraderie that has developed among members. “This group is very special. We have people from all walks of life who set their cares aside for one evening a week to rehearse, with the uplifting goals of reaching performance level and making great friends along the way.”

South Bay Singers began as the Gavilan College Choir under the baton of Phil Robb who retired in 2011, passing the baton to music educator Brant Ruggles who led the group until just before the pandemic shutdown. Under Maestro Ruggles’ leadership South Bay Singers became an independent community choir and over the years has developed a reputation for excellence, becoming a vibrant representative of the Santa Clara Valley’s rich arts community.

Dec. 2nd, 7:30pm at Grace Hill Church, 16970 DeWitt Ave., Morgan Hill

Dec. 3rd, 3:00pm at Advent Lutheran Church, 16870 Murphy Ave., Morgan Hill

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at southbaysingers.com or at the door.

Children under 10 free.