Award winning six-piece ensemble SimpleGifts will be performing at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16, at the Historic Paramount Theatre.

The performance, part of their 2018 Christmastide Holiday Tour, will be a holiday show focusing on traditional Christmas hymns and carols in new, modern arrangements.

SimpleGifts musicians combine violin, Celtic whistle and bagpipes, piano, acoustic guitar and percussion with angelic three part female vocals to create a “modern Old-World” sound. Performers are Billy McLaughlin, acoustic guitar; Billy Oehrlein, percussion; Heather (Garborg) Moen, vocals and violin; Laura MacKenzie, wooden flutes, whistles, concertina, bagpipes; Karen Paurus, vocals; and Amy Courts, vocals and melodica.

Heather Moen has a special Austin connection as her husband, Lee Moen, is an Austin High School graduate and the son of Debbie and Barry Moen.

Over 20,000 live audience members saw SimpleGifts live during the 2017 season.

The Riverland Choir, directed by Scott Blankenbaker, will join SimpleGifts on stage as part of the Austin tour. The Riverland Choir was invited to perform at a festival in New York City in May, a good demonstration of the quality of musicianship at the college.

Tickets to the general admission show are on sale now at austinareaarts.org and can also be purchased by calling 507-434-0934.  Advanced tickets are $25 for adults and $18 for students and seniors. Tickets purchased the day of the show are $30 for adults and $20 for students and seniors.

For more information, call 507-434-0934.