December 8, 2009
The Maryland Symphony Orchestra Presents Annual Home For The Holidays Concerts

Hagerstown, MD—Music Director Elizabeth Schulze and The Maryland Symphony Orchestra will kick off the holiday season in the quad-state region with its annual Home for the Holidays concerts on Saturday, December 19 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 20 at 3:00 p.m. at the historic Maryland Theatre in downtown Hagerstown.

Since the MSO’s Christmas concerts began, they have become the area’s favorite holiday tradition with families and friends gathering to listen to the magical sounds of Christmas that will fill their hearts and souls with goodwill throughout the rest of the Season.

This year’s special guests will be Hagerstown native Tami Dahbura (mezzo-soprano); the MSO’s vocal competition winner, Kristen DiMercurio; St. Mary Catholic School Chorus and the Hagerstown Choral Arts.  And, it wouldn’t be an MSO Christmas Celebration without the popular yuletide sing-a-long led by Jolly Old Saint Nick himself. 

Musical highlights will include White Christmas, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Santa Baby, Ave Maria, O Come All Ye Faithful, Variations on Joy to the World and O Holy Night.    

Tami Dahbura is an accomplished performer who has delighted audiences all over the world.  Her musical theatre career has taken her from the Off-Broadway stages of New York to regional performing arts venues throughout the country.  She was in the National and International tours of A Chorus Line.  Along with her theatre work, Tami has enjoyed a career as a soloist with several symphony orchestras, most notably the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, the Sacramento Philharmonic and the Oakland East Bay Symphony.  She has also performed internationally in her “one-woman show,” Lost in the Stars. 

The Hagerstown Choral Arts was founded in 1993 and is currently under the direction of Gregory Shook, one of the founders.  With 50 members in its debut season, HCA continues to grow in size, skills and a variety of musical offerings.  Each year the group furthers its goal of increasing awareness and appreciation of music in the community by collaborating with local organizations, performing arts groups and musicians.  HCA performs at least two major concerts per year with repertoire ranging from classical works to lighter pop songs. 

Kristen DiMercurio is a seventeen year old senior at St. Maria Goretti High School.  She has been performing on stage with the Goretti Players, participating in every production since her freshman year.  A member of the Hagerstown Community Childlren’s Theater, Kristin has also been a guest soloist with the Hagerstown Municipal Band for both summer and Christmas concerts over the past two years and is delighted to be singing with them again this season. 

Tickets for the concert are $22 for adults, $18 for students and $12 for children, 12 years of age and younger.  They may be purchased online at www.marylandsymphony.org or by calling the MSO box office at 301-797-4000. 

The MSO also offers special rates for groups of 10 or more.  Groups are seated together and all processing fees are waived.  More information can be obtained through the MSO website or by calling 301-797-4000. 

Home for the Holidays Gold Baton sponsors are M&T Bank and SpringHill Suites.  Conductor’s Circle sponsors are Thomas & Esther Newcomer and Electromet Corporation.

The Maryland Symphony Orchestra is also supported by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive.  An agency of the Department of Business and Economic Development, the MSAC provides financial support and technical assistance to nonprofit organizations, units of government, colleges and universities for arts activities.