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CWSO will perform two Christmas concerts

The Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra will present a Christmas concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at the Sentry Theater.

Soprano Amy Bils, a 1989 Stevens Point Area Senior High School graduate who has sung with many top regional opera companies, will headline the concert. She will perform Adolphe Adam's classic "O Holy Night," the "Aria" from Bach's "Christmas Oratorio" and Strauss' "Heimat" from "Der Fledermaus." She will also join the CWSO Chorus for the holiday-singalong finale, "The Many Moods of Christmas."

The chorus will perform the traditional "Maoz Tsur (Rock of Ages)," "Fum, Fum, Fum," and two songs from Handel's "Messiah" - "And the Glory of the Lord" and the "Hallelujah" chorus.

George Whitefield Chadwick's "Jubilee" from "The Symphonic Sketches" (1904) will kick off the program. Chadwick was a Boston composer who drew on a mix of African-American spirituals and European influences for his inspiration.

Following "Jubilee" will be Engelbert Humperdinck's "Prelude" to the opera "Hansel and Gretel."

The early part of the concert also includes Sergei Prokoviev's wintry "Troika" from "Lt. Kije" and Jean Sibelius' patriotic, yet melodic, "March" from the "Karelia Suite."

A suite of sleigh rides concludes the concert's first half, with Mozart's lilting "Sleigh Ride" followed by Leroy Anderson's better-known clip-clopping take on the subject.

In addition to the performances of Bils and the chorus, the concert's second half features Tchaikovsky's "Dance Russe Trepak" from the "Nutcracker Suite."

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point vocal-music professor Lucinda Thayer will conduct the concert. Thayer is the first of three guest conductors who will lead the CWSO through its season following the departure of musical director Eric Townell.

Remaining concerts this season will feature pianist Esther Budiardjo performing Schumann's "Piano Concerto in A Minor" and UW-SP music department chair Bob Kase soloing on Frank Bencriscutto's "Symphonic Jazz Suite for Trumpet and Orchestra."

Tickets are available for individual concerts or the entire season. For ticket information, call the UW-SP Arts and Athletics Ticket Office at 346-4100 or (800) 838-3378.



	CWSO will perform two Christmas concerts The Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra will present a Christmas concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at the Sentry Theater. Soprano Amy Bils, a 1989 Stevens Point Area Senior High School graduate who has sung with many top regional opera companies, will headline the concert. She will perform Adolphe Adam's classic "O Holy Night," the "Aria" from Bach's "Christmas Oratorio" and Strauss' "Heimat" from "Der Fledermaus." She will also join the CWSO Chorus for the holiday-singalong finale, "The Many Moods of Christmas." The chorus will perform the traditional "Maoz Tsur (Rock of Ages)," "Fum, Fum, Fum," and two songs from Handel's "Messiah" - "And the Glory of the Lord" and the "Hallelujah" chorus. George Whitefield Chadwick's "Jubilee" from "The Symphonic Sketches" (1904) will kick off the program. Chadwick was a Boston composer who drew on a mix of African-American spirituals and European influences for his inspiration. Following "Jubilee" will be Engelbert Humperdinck's "Prelude" to the opera "Hansel and Gretel." The early part of the concert also includes Sergei Prokoviev's wintry "Troika" from "Lt. Kije" and Jean Sibelius' patriotic, yet melodic, "March" from the "Karelia Suite." A suite of sleigh rides concludes the concert's first half, with Mozart's lilting "Sleigh Ride" followed by Leroy Anderson's better-known clip-clopping take on the subject. In addition to the performances of Bils and the chorus, the concert's second half features Tchaikovsky's "Dance Russe Trepak" from the "Nutcracker Suite." University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point vocal-music professor Lucinda Thayer will conduct the concert. Thayer is the first of three guest conductors who will lead the CWSO through its season following the departure of musical director Eric Townell. Remaining concerts this season will feature pianist Esther Budiardjo performing Schumann's "Piano Concerto in A Minor" and UW-SP music department chair Bob Kase soloing on Frank Bencriscutto's "Symphonic Jazz Suite for Trumpet and Orchestra." Tickets are available for individual concerts or the entire season. For ticket information, call the UW-SP Arts and Athletics Ticket Office at 346-4100 or (800) 838-3378.