Bay Atlantic Symphony’s Holiday Expressions concert is an anticipated annual tradition each December in South Jersey. Lively orchestral music celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah is what concert goers can expect along with some impressive solo performances. The Voces de Corazon children’s choir performs with the Symphony on Saturday in Vineland with the Children’s Choir of Southern New Jersey performing with the orchestra on Sunday in Galloway.
Continuing its theme of showcasing its own talent this season, three longtime Bay Atlantic Symphony musicians are featured in solo performances supported by the full orchestra in J.S. Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 4.”
One is Concertmaster Ruotoa Mao on violin. He has been with the Bay Atlantic Symphony for more than 20 years. Flutists Beverly Pugh and Kimberly Reighley, who have also performed with Bay Atlantic Symphony for many years, also have solos in the Concerto.
Soprano Melissa Chavez a Force
Soprano Melissa Chavez is the celebrated guest solo vocalist. She performs regularly in the Mid-Atlantic region and has enjoyed more than 30 operatic roles. The Washington Post called her voice “voluptuous.”
Chavez performs the ever popular “Ave Maria” with the full orchestra and “Cantique de Noel or “O Holy Night,” a Christmas carol written by French composer Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the poem Midnight Christians.
J.S. Bach’s “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring,” and “Brandenburg Concerto No. 4.” are followed in the second act by American composer Valerie Coleman’s “Umoja,” the Swahili word for Unity, the first of the seven days of Kwanzaa and composer Russell Steinberg’s “Lights On! – A Hanukkah Medley,” a musical journey through eight diverse Hanukkah tunes, each representing one of the eight nights of the Jewish holiday.
Arthur Harris’ medley of Christmas favorites including “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night,” “Deck the Halls” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” completes the concert followed by the highly anticipated piano holiday singalong on stage with Music Director Jed Gaylin.
Performances
Saturday, December 14 at 3 pm at Guaracini Performing Arts Center (Rowan University Cumberland Campus) 3322 College Dr., Vineland New Jersey
Sunday, December 15 at 2 pm at Stockton University's Performing Arts Center, 101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway New Jersey 08205
For additional tickets and information, Bay Atlantic Symphony
For more info about Melissa Chavez, https://www.melissajeanchavez.com/
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Soprano soloist Melissa Chavez sings two Christmas classics while our flutists and Concertmaster Ruotao Mao are featured in Johann Bach’s bejeweled and uplifting Fourth Brandenburg Concerto. Music for Hannukah and Kwanzaa round out our holiday celebration and there are two carol sing-alongs in great holiday tradition, one with the orchestra and the other gathered round-the-piano led by Maestro Gaylin.
Johann Sebastian Bach—Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring
Johann Sebastian Bach—Brandenburg Concerto No. 4
Kimberly Reighley, flute
Beverly Pugh, flute
Ruotao Mao, violin
Valerie Coleman––Umoja (The First Day of Kwanzaa)
Russell Steinberg––Light’s On! A Hanukkah Medley
Johann Sebastian Bach/ Charles Gounod––Ave Maria
Melissa Chavez, soprano
Adolphe Adam––Cantique de Noël (O Holy Night)
Melissa Chavez, soprano
Arthur Harris––A Medley of Christmas Carols
Audience Singalong!
