The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Presents: SOUNDS OF THE SEASON - Saturday, December 20 at 8 pm, Miller Auditorium

    KALAMAZOO, MI, December 04, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- For the second concert of the 2014-2015 Pops! Series, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra presents Sounds of the Season: A Holiday Spectacular. This annual concert of joyous seasonal and traditional music is perfect for the entire family. Share the warm sounds of the season with the KSO and start your own family tradition with this wonderful program that's sure to keep you in the holiday spirit!

For this always-anticipated season highlight, the KSO welcomes the Kalamazoo Children's Chorus and the Grace Notes Cello Ensemble to celebrate the season. Audiences can look forward to an evening of energetic, high-spirited performances, beginning with Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Dance of the Tumblers from his opera, The Snow Maiden. While the opera itself is a textbook romantic tragedy, the Dance of the Tumblers is anything but - this piece was scored for a wild celebratory party in Act III of the production. Next the KSO will play Carol of the Bells, March of the Toys from Victor Herbert's popular Broadway hit Babes in Toyland, and the iconic Christmas tune, Jingle Bells. The KSO will then be joined on stage by the Kalamazoo Children's Chorus, singing Angels We Have Heard on High, The Holly and the Ivy, The Candlelight Carol, and Fum, Fum, Fum. Closing out the first half, the symphony performs a number of movements from Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's staple in both the ballet repertoire and holiday lineup, The Nutcracker.

The second half of the concert will open with James A. Beckel's, buoyant piece, A Christmas Fanfare. The Grace Notes Cello Ensemble will then join the KSO for some of your season favorites, Up on the Housetop, Jolly Old St. Nick and Wonderful Hallelujah. Next is the composition originally composed as a piano piece for children, Gabriel Pierne's March of the Little Lead Soldiers, performed here in its orchestral version. Audiences will happily recognize more seasonal favorites Winter Wonderland and White Christmas which follow on the program. After, the Symphony brings Bill Holcombe's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to life with Judy Sarkozy's narration, paired with orchestra. And in a fitting finale, the Sounds of the Season concert concludes with an audience sing-along of Christmas Carols.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Raymond Harvey
With an immediately noticeable style that has been described as "elegant, but suffused with energy," Raymond Harvey (conductor) has garnered critical acclaim on symphonic podiums throughout the United States. Maestro Raymond Harvey has served as Music Director of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, and recently renewed his commitment to the KSO for an additional four years. Mr. Harvey was previously Music Director of the Springfield Symphony in Massachusetts and the Fresno Philharmonic in California.

Equally at home in the world of opera, Mr. Harvey served as Artistic Director of the El Paso Opera in Texas. Among the many productions he has conducted are Carmen, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, La Boheme, Turandot, Aida, La Traviata, The Tales of Hoffman, The Marriage of Figaro, and Cosi Fan Tutte.

Recognized as an outstanding pianist, choral conductor and teacher, Raymond Harvey holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Yale School of Music. He has been a frequent guest teacher for the Conductors Institute at Bard College, and for the American Symphony Orchestra League's Conducting Workshops. He also serves as adjunct faculty conductor with the University of Houston's opera department.

Kalamazoo Children's Chorus
The Kalamazoo Children's Chorus has been providing outstanding choral music to our community for over 34 years. Starting as a single choir in 1980, the Kalamazoo Children's Chorus is now six choirs strong and KCC students range from 3rd grade to 12th grade. Each year about 200 children, ages 8 to 18, learn and perform in an atmosphere of artistic excellence, and by so doing, enrich the artistic life of our community.

The Touring Choir is KCCs the most experienced choir, made up of an auditioned ensemble of middle and high school children under the artistic direction of Fred Sang. The Touring Choir has collaborated with every major musical organization in Kalamazoo and has sung with many artists who visit Kalamazoo to perform at Miller Auditorium and other venues. Over the years they have also shared the stage with: Numazu Boys and Girls Choir (Japan), Bloemfontein Children's Choir (South Africa), St. Mary's Children's Chorus (Canada) and The Young Peoples Chorus of New York City (America).

Singing a varied repertoire of sacred and secular music, the Touring Choir has sung in throughout Europe, the United States, Canada and Japan. In 2013 they performed in Rome, Florence, Mezza Villa and in Venice at the Bacillica of St. Mark's. In the summer of 2015, they will go on a concert tour of Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

The Grace Notes
The Grace Notes, an eight member cello choir, is directed by Grace Field of the Suzuki Academy of Kalamazoo. The cellists, all of whom are Junior Symphony members, range in age of 14 -18 and have a varied program of classical, blues, tangos, and rags.

The Grace Notes have performed for many Kalamazoo events, including soloists with the Kalamazoo Symphony, soloist with Kalamazoo Chamber Music Orchestra , and winner of Spotlight on Youth to name a few. They were also invited to play for Yo-Yo Ma before and after his performance with the Symphony. He was most gracious with his comments. Recently they played for esteemed cellists, Matt Haimovich and Richard Aaron.

The Grace Notes have recorded a seasonal CD which has sold well in the area and played for standing ovations at the last three New Year's Eve Fests. In June 2013 they played to a large crowd at Art Hop. Last August the Grace Notes toured Canada - giving concerts in Stratford and Toronto. Kalamazoo can expect to hear more about this dynamic group.

Judy Sarkozy
Judy Sarkozy was actually mistaken for Mrs. Claus late one Christmas eve as she handed a street child a gingerbread house. (It wasn't going to sell anyway so no big deal) She has been mistaken for a number of things but she is actually a bread baker at heart marveling at the transformation of water, flour, yeast and salt into a vibrant, beautiful thing. Classical music gives her the same thrill.

CALENDAR LISTING
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra presents
KSO Pops! Series
Sounds of the Season: A Holiday Spectacular

Raymond Harvey, conductor
Judy Sarkozy, Narrator
Grace Notes Cello Ensemble, Grace Field, Director
Kalamazoo Children's Chorus, Fred Sang, Director

This annual concert of joyous seasonal and traditional music is perfect for the entire family. Share the warm sounds of the season with the KSO and start your own family tradition with this wonderful program that's sure to keep you in the holiday spirit!

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Miller Auditorium

Tickets: $60 - $24
Student Tickets: $30 - $12

Visit www.kalamazoosymphony.com for up-to-date information, details and schedules. Prices, artists, dates, time and program are subject to change without notice.

The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra receives major support from the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra also receives generous support from other local, state and national foundations, as well as private and corporate support. For more information, visit www.kalamazoosymphony.com.

About the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1921, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra is Southwest Michigan's premier musical organization, providing musical enrichment to over 80,000 adults and youth per year. The third-largest professional orchestra in the state, the KSO has won numerous awards and grants, including the Met Life Award for Arts Access in Underserved Communities, the National Endowment for the Arts for its extensive education programs, and a major Ford Foundation grant to found its innovative Artist-in-Residence program.

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