There was little to fault and much to relish in the Christmas concert presented on Sunday by the St John’s Youth Choir.The production was held under the direction of Marjorie Pettit and included a chamber orchestra led by Kate Ross.The choir’s 14th Christmas programme encompassed a wide range of music associated with the Christmas season from the 16th to the 20th century. It offered ample opportunity for the audience to join their voices with those of the choir, filling the church with the joyful noise of Christian celebration.Throughout the evening the soloists were confident, and the choral work spot on. The girl soloists and ensemble, in particular, demonstrated maturity and competence in performance. A delightful addition to the evening’s programme was the Boys’ Chorus, and though their youth and inexperience were evident on occasion, it was enjoyable to have their voices enrich the choral work and add an extra element to the selections presented.The programme, compèred by Tony Pettit, emphasised the spiritual aspect of the holiday season, with just a slight nod to secularism with the popular ‘Sleigh Ride’ in the second half conjuring a Currier and Ives’ winter scene.The concert began with the clear voice of young Tyler John Do Couto singing the opening verse of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ before choir and congregation joined him. It was a pleasure to be able to join in singing familiar hymns, particularly with the descant soaring above the congregation. The first half of the programme was spiritual in tone with traditional carols like ‘Gaudete’ and ‘Lo He Comes with Clouds Descending’, and classical pieces such as Haydn’s ‘The Heavens are Telling’, from ‘The Creation’.Katherine Alison performed a solo, Britten’s ‘Corpus Christi’, in a beautiful, clear voice. Mozart’s, ‘Laudate Dominum’ sung confidently and competently by Francesca Dill was particularly striking; and Meghan Ward sung sweetly ‘Walking in the Air’ from the modern parable ‘The Snowman’ by Howard Blake.The second half of the programme opened with John Rutter’s ‘Carol of the Gifts’ sung by the Boys’ Chorus, followed by ‘Good King Wenceslas’ in which the Boys’ Chorus took the parts of King and Page. Katie Ewles’ rendition of Sherri Porterfield’s ‘A Winter Carol’ was lovely. Several selections written in a lighter tone, like Rutter’s lively, bright ‘Star Carol’, leavened the programme. Other selections in different genres demonstrated the versatility of the choir. Patsy Ford Simms’ ‘Hush Hear the Angels Sing’, written in a New Orleans Jazz style, and the ‘Calypso Carol,’ interpreted beautifully by Rhea Gibbons, reminded one of the universality of the Christmas message. The concert concluded with the inspirational ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ and a resounding ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’.Marjorie Pettit is to be commended once again for presenting Bermuda with a priceless gift of music: young voices in harmony telling the enduring story of Christ’s birth.