Family Holiday Concerts Charlottesville & University Symphony Orchestra and University Singers
- Saturday, December 5, 2009
- Old Cabell Hall
- 8:00pm
- General $10-$35, Students $10, Free for UVA students if reserved in advance
- Sunday, December 6, 2009
- Old Cabell Hall
- 3:30pm
- General $10-$35, Students $10, Free for UVA students if reserved in advance
The Charlottesville & University Symphony Orchestra with the University Singers, present their fifth annual holiday concerts, a musical toybox of seasonal favorites for orchestra and chorus. The University Singers, UVA's premiere vocal ensemble, will join the orchestra with solo appearances by violinist David Colwell and jazz vocalist Stephanie Nakasian. Conductor Michael Slon will lead the concerts. Two performances on Saturday, December 5, at 8:00 pm, and Sunday, December 6, at 3:30 pm are sponsored by Chase Investment Counsel Corporation.
Violinist David Colwell will be featured in the Winter movement of Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons.” Since his solo debut with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at the age of 14, he has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in Europe, Canada and the United States, and has been recorded by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Colwell joined the performance faculty at the University of Virginia in 2006. In addition to serving as the Charlottesville & University Symphony Orchestra’s Concertmaster, he is the first violinist of the Rivanna String Quartet. He also maintains a full studio of violin students and coaches undergraduate chamber ensembles.
Performing and “The Christmas Song” (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) and “Winter Wonderland” with the orchestra will be jazz vocalist Stephanie Nakasian. Nakasian is recognized by the Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz as one of the leading jazz singers in the world today with 5 CDs and numerous radio broadcasts for the internationally syndicated radio show Riverwalk. Her jazz style is compared to Ella Fitzgerald, June Christy and Rosemary Clooney, and her improvisation workshops are popular with students from elementary school through professional levels. Her performances as a headliner include the Kennedy Center, Northsea Jazz Festival, JazzPartyatSea Cruise, North Carolina Jazz Festival and hundreds of school and club concerts.
The concerts traditionally draw many students and families, and sell out early. Additional selections include John Williams’ Winter Olympic Theme: “Call of the Champions,” “The Adoration of the Magi” from Ottorino Respighi’s Botticelli Triptych, Leroy Anderson's classic “Sleigh Ride,” George Frideric Handel's majestic "Hallelujah" chorus from “Messiah,” the reverent “Silent Night,” the rousing "The Twelve Days of Christmas" with audience participation and more.