Northwest Festival Orchestra to present 'Sleigh Bells Are Ringing!'
The Northwest Festival Orchestra, celebrating its 10th anniversary under the direction of Dr. Verne Schwager, will present its holiday concert, "Sleigh Bells Are Ringing," at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, at the Harper College Performing Arts Center.
"It represents a milestone in the history of the group," Schwager said, touting the group's use of "truly professional musicians" in an outstanding performance space.
The 56-member orchestra will be joined by four vocal soloists: soprano Morgan Bishop, mezzo Lindsey Poling, tenor Anthony Seemann and baritone Brad Whaley. "These are artists of great ability," he said.
The ensemble will perform a selection of holiday favorites including "The Nutcracker" and Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride." The program also features seasonal selections - both religious and secular - that are sure to be appealing to all. Among them is "The Night They Invented Champagne" from the 1958 movie "Gigi."
"It's a wonderful arrangement that we have," Schwager said.
As always, Schwager and the orchestra will have some surprises for the audience.
The Northwest Festival Orchestra is comprised of the area's finest younger professional musicians who share a common passion for creating and sharing music at the highest level. The ensemble's programs are devoted to both classical and contemporary repertoire spanning the orchestral spectrum and also frequently include opera/operetta excerpts. The orchestra has a string section known for its warmth and virtuosity.
The venue is at 1200 W. Algonquin Road in Palatine. Tickets are $35, $25 for seniors and $20 for students.
For information, email festorch@aol.com, or call (847) 392-9003.