Holiday Concert Scheduled Tuesday
The Ponca City High School Symphony Orchestra will take the stage tonight at 7 p.m. in the Ponca City Schools Concert Hall for a combined performance with the Ponca City High School Chorale. Admission for this concert is free and the public is invited to attend.
The Ponca City High School Symphony Orchestra is under the direction of Paula Cochran with assistant directors Katie Rolf, and Cassidy Broome. The Symphony winds, brass, and percussion are prepared and rehearsed by Po-Hi Band director Trent Davis. The Ponca City High School Chorale is under the direction of Chad Keilman with assistant director Katie Nichols.
The Po-Hi Chorale opens the program with O Come, O Come Emmanuel arranged by Alice Parker and Robert Shaw. Immediately following is Bob Cerulli’s arrangement of the holiday favorite, It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, conducted by Po-Hi Symphony Orchestra director Paula Cochran.
Continuing the concert will be Bob Phillip’s arrangement of Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24. This exciting arrangement of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra favorite will be conducted by Cassidy Broome. Next, the Po-Hi Chorale will perform Roy Ringwald’s arrangement of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. The Chorale will then continue with Lindsey Buckingham’s A “Holiday Road” of Carols, arranged by Greg Gilpin. This one-of-a-kind medley features familiar Christmas carols with a chorus of Holiday Road, made famous as the theme for “National Lampoon’s Vacation.” Continuing the concert will be the Po-Hi Chorale performing Ed Lojeski’s arrangement of Patapan. Concluding this portion of the concert will be the Po-Hi Symphony Strings performing In the Bleak Midwinter. This arrangement of Gustav Holst’s famous piece will be conducted by Katie Rolf.
We will then welcome to the stage retired maestro, Dan Larson, who will lead the Po-Hi Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Wizards of Winter, an exciting arrangement of another Trans-Siberian Orchestra favorite. The Chorale will then present an exciting performance of Peter J. Wilhousky’s arrangement of Carol of the Bells. Next, maestro Larson will lead the Po-Hi Chorale and the Po-Hi Symphony Strings in a performance of Morten Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium.
Concluding the concert, Dan Larson will conduct Leroy Anderson’s A Christmas Festival. The audience is invited to sing along with the Po-Hi Chorale on the traditional Christmas Songs featured in this piece.