The Mount Baker Secondary School is holding its annual Christmas concert on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at the Key City Theatre in Cranbrook.
Music Director Evan Bueckert says there will be a couple of twists to this year's event.
"The exciting thing about this year is that we're going to break with tradition, and let each ensemble be featured on its own," Bueckert said.
A concert last month featured all five of the music departments ensembles, he added, so the Christmas concert on Wednesday will feature the vocal ensembles, with special guests The Good Ol' Goats.
The Mount Baker Concert Choir, an ensemble of 120 students, will perform a cappella, with some piano accompaniment. The Goats will be accompanying the choir for one piece, which has been specially arranged. "We want people to come hear their spin on Christmas," Bueckert said.
The Mount Baker Jazz Ensemble will also perform, with a rhythm section — piano, bass, drums and guitar, and amplification.
On Valentine's Day in February, 2013, Bueckert said there will be a special concert for the instrumental ensembles.
"We're going to make a special announcement (at Wednesday's concert)," Bueckert said, "about our upcoming tour plans. We're going to undertake plans to travel to Vienna and Prague next year."
This will be Mount Baker Music's second trip to that part of the world. They were last there in 2008, participating in an international music festival.
"It's an honour to be invited back," Bueckert said. "The last time we were there, the students were so well received that they've waived our audition process for this year."
To this end, the fundraising process for the trip has begun, and donations will be accepted at the door during Wednesday's concert.
Further in regards to the Good Ol' Goats, Bueckert said that their recent album "Train" is now available internationally on iTunes.