Wallingford Symphony performs Sunday,2:00

The Wallingford Symphony Orchestra will express the majesty and the joy of the season in a two-part program at its Holiday Concert on Sunday afternoon (December 11) at the Paul Mellon Arts Center, Choate Rosemary Hall. The orchestra, directed by Maestro Philip Ventre, will present selections from Handel’s Messiah, featuring baritone Kurt Loft Willet who has been a soloist in operatic, symphonic and oratorio productions and with regional choral societies throughout the country. A Choate graduate with advanced degrees from the Julliard School, Willet has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera House in featured roles.

The WSO will also share the stage with Dag Hammarskjold and Moran Middle School choruses in the first part of the program. The Dag Hammarskjold chorus is directed by Julianne Boucher who teaches vocal and general music; the Moran chorus is directed by Laurie Brandl, who teaches choral and string music and is co-director of the annual musical production. The choruses will perform separately and then combine their 160 voices to sing holiday selections drawn from various traditional sources. They will conclude by leading the audience in a sing-along. The orchestra will also play a medley of Christmas songs from Broadway productions by composers from Victor Herbert to Rodgers and Hammerstein, followed by old favorites including The Christmas Song, White Christmas, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride. The concert begins at 2 p.m. Ticket information is available on the Wallingford Symphony website or can be purchased at the door.