COST

FREE

We celebrate the return of live music this holiday season with a dramatic program of Christmas favorites, overture’s from the stage, and classical references, with plenty of fun surprises throughout!

“Curtain Up!” opens our program with Alfred Reed’s energetic take on the typical Broadway overture, spilling over with catchy tunes you are sure to sing all the way home.  “Skydance” follows up with a more traditional band festival opener as Sheldon writes bold fanfares and flowing lyrical lines that show off the ensemble’s colors.  “Away in a Manger” is our turn to the holidays, with a beautifully arranged take on the classic nativity story by Tom Wallace.  We follow-up those lush harmonies with an inventive arrangement of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” by the prolific Naohiro Iwai…. and yes, that is a Cha-cha in there.  As the sleigh bells fade, we return again to the sacred with the gorgeous choral work by Morten Lauridsen, “O Magnum Mysterium,” transcribed for concert band by Reynolds.  Depicting the birth of the new-born king, this delicate setting is a powerful interlude in our program.  

John Philip Sousa and Julie Giroux bring us back squarely into the realm of band music with a version of “The Stars and Stripes Forever” peppered with surprising interjections of holiday fun titled “Christmas and Sousa Forever!”  Likewise, “When St. Nick Comes Marching In” takes a classic, “When the Saints Come Marching In,” throws in a dixieland quartet and shakes it all up into a rollicking holiday treat.  Continuing with the drama, “Brigadoon” brings us back to the stage with themes of the musical by Lerner and Lowe, including the favorite “Almost Like Being in Love.”  Next up, Julie Giroux takes us on a wild and unexpected journey through classical references transformed into a holiday party playlist with “A Stocking Full of Composers.”  Nearing the end of our program, the traditional “Greensleeves” showcases our band’s expressive sound and the masterful arranging of Alfred Reed.  Then to close our program, “Adventum” races toward a thundering finale with Barnes’ arrangement of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and “Carol of the Bells.”
 
Plus, if you show just enough appreciation, we have a fan-favorite encore
cued up for a final ride into the Holidays!
 
Thank You and Enjoy the Show!   – Joe