Fox Valley Philharmonic to perform 'Celtic Christmas Concert' Dec. 9

The Fox Valley Philharmonic Orchestra and the Aurora Community Chorale, under the direction of Stephen Thurlow and Kristin Young, open the holiday season with a "Celtic Christmas Concert" at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9.

The concert will be held at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 420 W. Downer Place in Aurora.

The centerpiece of the concert will be the orchestra and choir performance of selections from Joseph Martin's Christmas cantata, "Tapestry of Light," 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, rich choral sonorities accompanied by sparkling instrumental orchestration.

Additional works to be performed are the Steamroller instrumental arrangement of Gruber's classic carol, "Silent Night" and Holst's "Fantasia on the Dargason" which contains a clever juxtaposition of the rustic, foot-tapping country dance tune with the gentle, lyrical folk song melody, of the English carol, "What Child is This" (aka "Greensleeves").

The concert will conclude with audience participation in a "singalong" with the orchestra and choir performing several well-known traditional Christmas carols. There will be a reception with refreshments will after the concert.

Admission to the concert is free, although an appeal is made for free-will, tax-deductible donations to help with partially defraying concert expenses. Parking is available behind the Our Savior church, with access on Garfield Avenue.

For further information call (708) 579-2878 from a 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday or email to info@FVacademy.org.

Visit www.fvacademy.org or www.facebook.com/FVAMPandPhilharmonic/.