Gold, frankincense and myrrh may have been the order of the day for the three magi, but for the St John’s Youth Choir, their gift of a concert in glorious celebration of the Christmas season is no less precious.In what has become an eagerly-awaited highlight of the festive calendar, the more than 50 boys and girls, who range in age from eight to 18, will present a programme of festive favourites at St John’s church, Pembroke on Sunday.Directed and founded by Marjorie Pettit, the choir is now in its 14th year, and its young singers enjoy an enviable reputation for excellence. However this weekend’s concert, entitled ‘Joy to the World’, promises to be outstanding, thanks to the addition of a record number of boys.“Their pure, beautiful sound has helped to bring the choir to a new level of excellence,” Mrs Pettit said. “Although this concert features the entire St John’s Youth Choir, we are occasionally asked to provide entertainment for select gatherings in the form of a smaller group of our singers. The senior girls have always been our stars, but our boys’ chorus has already begun to attract considerable attention.”The extensive programme is wide-ranging in its choice of arrangements and composers Mozart, Handel, Mendelssohn and Britten among the latter and includes audience participation for five well-loved carols.In addition to the choral singing, the senior girls, senior ensemble, boys’ chorus and ensemble singers will each render their own performances.Featured soloists throughout the programme will be Tyler John Do Couto, Katherine Allison, Felix Cutler, Francesca Dill, Meghan Ward, Katie Ewles, Rhea Gibbons and Catriona Tait.The singers will be backed by a group of professional orchestral players led by Kate Ross (violin), as well as pianist Andrea Hodson and organist Cornell Fox.The 24-item programme will conclude with the rousing ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ from Handel’s ‘Messiah’, followed the choir and congregation joyously singing ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’.“The concert programme should provide something for everyone, with some fun new pieces for the children to sing in addition to the traditional old favourites,” Mrs Pettit said.Showtime on Sunday is 7.30pm, with doors opening at 6.45pm. Tickets for general seating (adults $30, students $20) can be purchased from The Bermuda Bookstore on Queen Street, and also at the door. Patrons are advised to arrive as early as possible due to the demand for seating.“Our concerts are anxiously awaited by our followers,” Mrs Pettit noted. “We began receiving calls for sponsors tickets in mid-September.”The St John’s Youth Choir is funded solely by sponsor donations, and mounts two shows a year.“Our expenses are considerable, and in addition to the weekly costs of music, materials, and treats for the children, there are the annual costs of mounting two large shows a year,” Mrs Pettit said. “These costs include purchase and scoring of music, hire of instrumentalists, staging, equipment hire and skilled technology.“In addition, music scholarships totalling $18,000 per annum are provided to the more senior choir members who, through their talent, commitment and musical attainment, provide an excellent example for the younger choir members.”