BY RUTH RICE
RRICE@TRIBDEM.COM
Music, dance and singing will combine when Johnstown Symphony Orchestra celebrates Christmas.
“Christmas Around the World” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, Richland Township.
“This is a joyful celebration,” said Maestro Istvan Jaray, the symphony’s music director. “It starts the holidays off in the right mood.”
Those who perform for this concert enjoy it as much as or more than the audience, Jaray added.
The symphony will perform holiday tunes from around the world, including songs from Germany, France, Italy and the United States.
“They’re a collection of different melodies from around the world,” Jaray said. “This is the most colorful and involved concert of the year.”
The audience will become involved in the music when it participates in several sing-alongs led by members of Johnstown Symphony Chorus that will be interspersed throughout the concert.
“ ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ is a favorite,” Jaray said.
The chorus won’t be singing Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” this year, but they will perform “Nutcracker Jingle,” a different version of “Jingle Bells.”
“It’s ‘Jingle Bells’ with a twist,” Jaray said. “It’s a very interesting piece, with music drawn from ‘The Nutcracker.’ ”
For the dance portion of the concert, Johnstown Concert Ballet will also draw on Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” as it dances to three short pieces from its most recent production.
“It’s very powerful, and I’m looking forward to it,” Jaray said.
“There’s some tremendous talent.”
Also taking part in the performance will be White Noise, a local
a cappella vocal group comprised of Nathan and Kristen Santos, Mark Weakland, Beth Good and Doug Wilkins.
Jaray wasn’t willing to reveal the group’s selections.
“We want to keep it a secret to have some surprises,” Jaray said.
The evening is informal and family oriented and an opportunity for anyone who has never seen the symphony to attend.
“This is an open door for those who don’t know what the symphony is all about,” Jaray said. “It’s a good introduction to hear the symphony for the first time and join us for future concerts.”
Pro-rated season tickets for the remaining concerts of the 2009-10 season are available by calling the box office at Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center at 269-7200.
Concert
What: “Christmas Around the World.”
Where: Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, Richland Township.
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Tickets: $35 and $30.
Information: 535-6738.
