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November 28,
2005
The Maryland Symphony Orchestra Presents Two Special Holiday
Concerts on December 17 & 18
Hagerstown, MD…The Maryland Symphony
Orchestra and Music Director Elizabeth Schulze present two very special
holiday concerts at the historic Maryland Theatre, with special guests
Katie Fitzsimmons, Jan Aaland, Claudia Patterson, Hagerstown Choral
Arts, the Clear Spring Middle School Chorus, and winners of the annual
Holiday Poster and Lyrics Contest.
On Saturday, December 17, at 7:00 pm the Maryland Symphony Orchestra
welcomes the season with “Glorious Holiday Spirits,” featuring
Vivaldi’s serene and sublime Gloria, and holiday favorites from
Angels We Have Heard on High and March of the Toys to Festive Sounds
of Hanukah and Sleigh Ride. At 3:00 pm on Sunday, December 18, the
MSO presents its first ever “Santa Symphony,” an hour-long
concert of holiday favorites designed with children in mind.
Also new this year is “Cookies with Santa,” to be held
prior to the Sunday concert. Ticket holders are invited to this special
pre-concert event, which will be held from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm on December
18 at One, Two, Kangaroo in downtown Hagerstown. Attendees will enjoy
cookies and punch with Santa, who will read a special holiday story
and will also listen to those with last minute Christmas wishes. Event
tickets are $5.00 per person – call the MSO office at 301-797-4000
to make your reservation.
A highlight of the Saturday concert is the complete Vivaldi Gloria,
performed by Hagerstown Choral Arts and Greg Shook, director. Guests
soloists for this evening concert are Katie Fitzsimmons, soprano,
Jan Aaland, soprano and Claudia Patterson, mezzo-soprano. The Sunday
afternoon concert will include two of the most popular movements from
this beautiful work.
The Clear Spring Middle School Chorus, directed by David Baker,
will perform White Christmas, with new lyrics by Clear Spring Grade
7 student James Firestein, winner of the fifth annual Holiday Lyric
Contest. Each year the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, in cooperation
with Washington County Public Schools, the Herald-Mail Newspapers,
the City of Hagerstown, and M&T Bank, sponsors the contest, which
is open to middle school students in Washington County, as well as
the Holiday Poster Contest for area elementary students.
Grand Prize Winner of the Holiday Poster Contest is Byjal KiKani,
Grade 4 student at Emma K. Doub Elementary. The poster, which was
selected from all entries for Grades 3, 4 and 5 will be featured on
the cover of the MSO holiday concerts program book. Grade 5 Winner
is Laura Hartman from Old Forge Elementary, and Honorable Mention
for Grade 5 is Lindsay Flowers from Hancock Elementary. Winner of
the Grade 4 division is Potomac Heights student Kelly Schmidt. Tyresha
Carter from Emma K. Doub received Honorable Mention honors. Grade
3 winner is Alyssa Towning from Pangborn Elementary, and Honorable
Mention goes to Paramount Elementary student Kiersten Burger.
All Winning and Honorable Mention posters, along with selected posters
from the hundreds submitted for judging, will be on display in the
Penney’s court area of the Valley Mall during the holiday season.
Celebration Sponsor for the MSO Holiday Concerts is M&T Bank,
with additional sponsorships provided by the Herald-Mail Newspapers
and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Newcomer. In the event that inclement weather
causes a cancellation, the concert snow date will be Monday, December
19, at 8:00 p.m.
Tickets for either “Glorious Holiday Spirits” or “Santa
Symphony” are $19 for adults and $11 for children 12 and under,
and can be purchased at the Maryland Symphony Orchestra office at
13 South Potomac Street, Hagerstown, MD, by calling the Box Office
at 301-797-4000.
Led by Music Director and Conductor Elizabeth Schulze, the Maryland
Symphony Orchestra, now in its 24th season, is the area’s premiere
professional orchestra, dedicated to providing musical performances
and programs that educate and entertain while enhancing the cultural
environment of Western Maryland and the surrounding region.
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