Next week, while many families are winding down their school programs and preparing for the Christmas break, 60 kids from a Coquitlam-based choir will be hunkered into front of their televisions to catch themselves perform with an international superstar.
The invitation to the Coastal Sound Music Academy (CSMA) to appear in the Christmas special with Burnaby crooner Michael Buble came "out of the blue," said children's choir conductor Diana Clark.
And it also came at a very busy time for CSMA.
In late October, CSMA was involved in a three-day youth choir festival with 500 children from Western Canada when executive director Angela Crocker got the surprise call from Bruce Allen's talent agency, which represents Buble.
In 10 days, the agency needed a 60-member vocal group to sing a David Foster arrangement of Silent Night - live - at the Red Robinson Show Theatre.
Would they be available? the official asked.
"How do you say no to Bruce Allen and Michael Buble?" Clark joked, adding, "We just pulled out all the stops to make it happen."
Clark said she doesn't know why the agency picked CSMA, other than"I guess they know our reputation," she said.
On Nov. 9, the 60 costumed children in Grades 2 to 9 arrived two hours early for rehearsals then, for the next 2.5 hours - with lit waxed candles in their hands - they performed before a closed set with the Juno- and Grammy-award singer.
Buble "was so delightful to work with and really great with the kids," Clark said. "He's friendly and funny."
Added Crocker, "He was absolutely lovely. He was genuine and caring and interested in the person he was talking to. He made it such a positive experience for the kids."
Still, Clark said with the Christmas rush, the young singers haven't had much time to absorb their televised experience.
On Sunday, CSMA performed two concerts at Coquitlam's Evergreen Cultural Centre; this Saturday, they have a show with DragonDiva Opera, titled Baby It's Cold Outside, at Eagle Ridge United Church in Coquitlam; and on Sunday, they're in Vancouver for another seasonal event.
But Crocker said she'll be having a discussion with many of the vocalists and their families this and next week to get them mentally ready for the Dec. 18 special that will be seen by millions of viewers around the world - on T.V. and online (Buble's inaugural holiday special debuted in 2011 with an audience of 1.6 million).
"I'll be telling them how lucky we are that we got a chance to do this and that we shouldn't be boastful, just be honoured and humbled.... This was an extraordinary experience and we're very glad we could provide this."
Michael Buble's third annual Christmas special premieres on Wednesday, Dec. 18 on CTV at 10 p.m. and features Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Sesame Street's Cookie Monster and the Coastal Sound Music Academy. Encore presentations will air on Dec. 21 at 5 p.m., Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 25 at 9 p.m.
