By Stephanie Gray
In a season hallmarked by time spent with loved ones, Michael W. Smith presents a holiday concert designed to celebrate the things that matter most. The Spirit of Christmas in Concert highlights the best-selling and most-beloved projects in his extensive repertoire of holiday classics. Bell Shoals Baptist Church invites the community to join in on Wednesday, December 16 for a special evening of collaboration featuring The Imperial Symphony Orchestra (ISO) conducted by David Hamilton, the Bell Shoals Worship Choir and award-winning icon, Michael W. Smith.
For many people Smith’s Christmas music has long provided the soundtrack for the holiday season highlighting “family, faith and what Christmas brought to the world, the birth of Jesus.” Celebrating the singer’s fourth Christmas project and its Gospel Music Association’s Dove Award for Christmas Album of the Year, this show promises all of your Christmas favorites, and much more.
“This is the most unique and unusual record I’ve ever done in my 31-year career. The entire record was sequenced together before we recorded one song,” recalled Smith. “Sonically you’re hearing me in a way that you’ve probably never heard me before. At one point, it is like Smitty meeting Bublé. There’s my granddaughter’s voice singing the song from Home Alone, plus the whole orchestral and symphonic feeling of Christmas, mixed together with all these amazing voices and guests – yet it all fits together in a remarkable way.”
In addition to Smith’s outstanding vocals, attendees will enjoy the dynamic accompaniment of Central Florida’s most “highly polished, regional orchestra,” ISO and The Bell Shoals Worship Choir. ISO is composed of over 80 talented local musicians, while Bell Shoals Worship Choir leads The Bell Shoals congregation in weekly worship and for many special events.
Jason Millsaps, pastor of music and worship said, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our 225 voice worship choir and we are honored to be invited to sing with Michael W. Smith for this Christmas Concert here at Bell Shoals Baptist Church.”
Tickets purchased in advance of the concert range from $28 to $68 and can be purchased at www.ticketfly.com. Tickets will also be available at the Bell Shoals Baptist Church the night of the concert.
