The Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra will present the rich and joyous sounds of the season with its sixth annual holiday themed concert. Led by Music Director Marcelo Bussiki, the “Holiday Pops Concert” will take place at 5:00pm, Sunday, December 14, at the Christ United Methodist Church (CUMC) in College Station. The Symphony’s Brass musicians will be joined by: James Faith on organ, the Christ United Methodist Church Sanctuary Choir and The Canticle Bells, the College Station High School Varsity Women’s Choir, and guest artist, soprano Emily Pulley.
Pulley, who has performed with the New York Metropolitan Opera, will grace the stage with a lovely selection of holiday arias as part of a full and varied program of seasonal favorites. Key organizer and guest organist, James Faith, recently shared about how this concert has evolved over time. “Each year the audience gets to experience something new. The first year was simply one choir, brass and organ. Now we have expanded to involve school choirs, handbells, and a soloist. I believe the audiences enjoy this concert because the music includes fresh arrangements of familiar holiday songs and carols.”
This program, generously sponsored in part by Sterling Auto Group, Spirit of Texas Bank, and Systek Computing, showcases an elegant arrangement of pieces from purely instrumental music and delightful choral arrangements, to bell choir works and more. The music selections are varied from spiritual or religious to popular Christmas carols, including multi-culturally inspired music. The evening’s production will conclude with sing-along favorites including holiday classics like Silent Night and George Frideric Handel’s famous Hallelujah Chorus.
Kearby Etheredge’s musical groups have participated a number of times and talked about how this concert is great for her students and the community. “We are very excited to participate again in the BVSO Holiday Pops Concert! Variety and collaborative music making is the key to this concert.”
“The Holiday Pops Concert is a positive and educational experience for the students,” Etheredge continues. “It is inspiring to be part of a larger group of performers and to perform for the Bryan/College Station community. It allows us all to build relationships with other music makers. Audiences love to come to the Holiday Pops because it truly offers you a chance to hear all of the joyous sounds of the Season.”
The “Holiday Pops Concert” is actually separate from the regular Symphony subscription season and is being presented for those looking for a joyous holiday outing with family and friends. The Symphony strives to provide its community members with memorable musical experiences, and this annual event is just one of the ways it reaches out to make that vision become a reality. The evening will end on a harmonious note with a cookie and beverage reception in the church foyer hosted by the Friends Association of the Symphony Orchestra. All concert attendees are invited to attend.
Individual advance tickets ($25/adult, $10/child) for this special concert are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the MSC Box Office, located in the Rudder Auditorium lobby, by phone at (979) 845-1234, or online at http://boxoffice.tamu.edu. Tickets will also be on sale at the door the night of the concert ($30/adult, $10/child). Call the Brazos Valley Symphony Office at (979) 696-6100 with any further questions or visit www.bvso.org.
