Enjoy holiday concert with Fox Valley Philharmonic Orchestra Dec. 3
The Fox Valley Philharmonic Orchestra and Our Savior Lutheran Church Community Choir, under the direction of Jason Palmer and Joni Shaw, open the holiday season with a concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at the church, 420 W. Downer Place in Aurora.
The centerpiece of the concert will be the performance of Joseph Martin's Christmas cantata, "Tapestry of Light," with narration and music that "illuminates" the Christmas story in the broader context of prophecy, nativity, hope, and salvation, much like Handel did in his oratorio, "Messiah." The work is filled with tuneful English folk songs and lively Celtic rhythms, insightful narrations, and sparkling orchestration.
The second part of the concert adds audience participation into the mix in a sing-along with the orchestra and choir performing several well-known traditional Christmas carols. Turning to a more secular spirit of the season, the orchestra will conclude by sending the audience out with a rousing rendering of Leroy Anderson's popular "Sleigh Ride," hopefully not predicting the weather for the trip home.
Admission to the concert is free, although an appeal is made for free-will, tax-deductible donations to help with partially defraying concert expenses and keeping the free-admission concert policy viable. Parking is available behind the Our Savior church, with access on Garfield Avenue. For information, call the church at (630) 897-5936 or the orchestra at (708) 579-2878.
This concert is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.