Centre County groups will perform songs of the season during holiday concerts
’Tis the season to be jolly and nothing’s quite as jolly as singing along to your favorite Christmas tunes. There are plenty of opportunities to do so in the coming weeks, as musical groups of all genres and sizes charm audiences with renditions of holiday classics.
At 7 p.m. Monday, the Nittany Knights Barbershop Chorus, the local chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, performs in a benefit concert at Trinity Lutheran Church. The concert supports Interfaith Human Services of Centre County with a free will offering taken at the door. IHS supports low-income families in Centre County with financial assistance during periods of instability, while also providing resources such as financial education.
The State Theatre presents three holiday concerts this season: An Unforgettable Night of Nat King Cole, Dec. 7; Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild & Swingin’ Holiday Party, Dec. 11; and Charlie Brown Christmas Jazz, Dec. 13. The first is an interpretation of Cole’s most well-known pieces by several talented vocalists and a 17-piece band. The second features American swing and jazz takes on classic holiday songs, plus original music. The last is part of The State Theatre’s Jazz in the Attic series and provides an intimate atmosphere in which to hear some iconic Vince Guaraldi tunes from the Charlie Brown Christmas special. Tickets for all three holiday concerts are available at http://thestatetheatre.org/.
The State College Choral Society’s popular Christmas concert will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 7 at Grace Lutheran Church in State College. The annual family tradition is free to the community and will feature Christmas carols, Bach’s famed short cantata “Wachet Auf” and an audience sing-along. While no ticket is required, audience members are encouraged to bring a contribution of a non-perishable food or household items for Housing Transitions.
The Orpheus Singers hold its Midwinter Carols concert, Dec. 13, 7 p.m., at Grace Lutheran Church. Director Nathan Glocke says this concert is a unique opportunity for concert-goers to enjoy some carols “of the more quieter and contemplative variety.” He hopes to create a specific ambiance for the concert, with a darkened sanctuary lit only by Christmas lights and candles.
“One of my favorite features of Grace Lutheran Church is the constellations in the ceiling that can be illuminated to recreate the night sky on the very first Christmas Eve,” he said. “This is going to be a lovely addition to the State College holiday concert circuit. ... The music being performed is much more somber and reflective than much of the music you often hear at holiday concerts. There is no shortage of joyful and exciting music during this time of year, but there often are not as many opportunities to hear these carols that are much slower, quieter and equally as beautiful.”
During Bellefonte Victorian Christmas, Dec. 13–14, Trinity United Methodist Church hosts holiday concerts, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., with six, 45-minute concerts and an all-day reception. This year’s performers include Toot-in-Common; Penn State University Saxophone Studio & Soloists; Shawn Gority, bagpiper; Arietta Women’s Ensemble; Curtin Family Ensemble; and Callanish, a Celtic band.
Also during Bellefonte Victorian Christmas, local doo-wop group RamaLama presents its Victorian Doo-Wop Christmas, with a performance at Bellefonte Middle School, Dec. 14, 2 p.m. The program features popular Christmas doo-wop tunes from the 1950s and 1960s, and a holiday favorite sing-a-long.
Toot-in-Common, a flute choir, presents additional December performances later in the season, Dec. 16, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m. also at St. Andrew’s, as part of the State College First Night celebrations. The Dec. 16 concert and following reception is the choir’s holiday celebration and will include popular and contemporary holiday favorites.
Saturday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m., the Bellefonte Community Band holds its Victorian Christmas concert at Bellefonte Area High School. The all-volunteer ensemble of approximately 60 musicians from throughout the Centre Region will perform holiday classics and some new takes on old favorites, says band president Jenna Spinelle. The band also performs at the Bellefonte Victorian Christmas opening ceremonies, Friday, Dec. 13.
On Dec. 15, the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra will peform highlights from Handel’s “Messiah” and Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” as well as works by Leroy Anderson, Ralph Vaughan Williams and a special arrangement by Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra founder, Douglas Meyer, of several holiday songs set to the story “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The orchestra’s Holiday Celebration also includes an audience sing-along, says executive director Anna Skrupky. The concert takes place at the Penn State Recital Hall. The concert will be live-streamed on the orchestra’s website, http://pachamberorchestra.org/, thanks to support from PNC Bank.