Sit back and relax as we offer a list of South Valley’s 2006
holiday concerts, from community orchestras to high school and
college choirs
By Julie Englehart Special to South Valley Newspapers
The holidays can be rather stressful, with
shopping, cooking and entertaining, so take a break from it all and sit back to enjoy some seasonal music. Gather up the kids and head to one of the various holiday concerts
happening throughout the South Valley. This is a great way to unwind and get into the spirit of the season.
San Benito Oriana Chorale
The Oriana Chorale is celebrating its 21st season, performing selections from Handel’s Messiah and Joseph Martin’s cantata, Winter Rose. Performances will take place at Sacred Heart Church in Hollister Sunday at 2:30pm and at Mission San Juan Bautista Wednesday at 7:30pm.
Joining the choir for its performances at the Mission will be Fairweather and Friends, a string quartet that regularly performs with the Santa Cruz Symphony and other orchestras in the Monterey Bay area. The choir is made up of local volunteers who rehearse every Monday evening at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hollister.
The choir’s is Robin McKee Williams, an active musical director, instructor and mezzo-soprano soloist for the Monterey Peninsula and San Francisco Bay areas. Tickets are $10 for teens, $15 for adults, and children 12 and under are admitted free.
For information: (831) 207-2134.
South Valley Symphony
This community orchestra will be performing this holiday season under the direction of their new conductor Anthony Quartuccio.
The concert will be held Saturday, Dec. 16 at the Gavilan College Theater, 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd, Gilroy.
The orchestra will perform such pieces as “Christmas Concerto” by Arcangelo Corelli; “Sleigh Ride” by LeRoy Anderson; “Medley of Well-Known Carols” by Arthur Harris; and “On the Beautiful Blue Danube” by J. Strauss, Jr.
For more information: www.southvalleysymphony.org.
San Jose Chamber Orchestra
The Chamber Orchestra pairs with the Choral Project to present Winter’s Gifts, under the direction of Daniel Hughes, Sunday at 7:30pm, at St. Benedict’s Church in Hollister, 1200 Fairview Road.
The program features the world premiere of a major new work: “The Songbird and the Eagle,” based on a traditional Buddhist Jakata Tale. With music by Kim D. Sherman and text by Rick Davis, this work explores the theme of the possibility of peace in the world being attained through the small actions of each individual.
The program also features “Christmas Day” by Gustav Holst and “Dona nobis pacem” by Vaughan Williams, with soprano Sandra Rubalcava and baritone Joseph Wright.
For more information: (408) 295-4416.
Sobrato High School
Sobrato High School’s choir and concert band will perform their holiday concert Wednesday at 6:30pm, in the school’s performing arts center.
A silent auction will also take place. The school is located at 401 Burnette Ave., Morgan Hill.
For more information: (408) 201-6200.
Hollister school
concerts
The elementary school band and choir holiday concert will take place Wednesday at 7pm, at Rancho San Justo Middle School, 1201 Rancho Drive. Accompanying the band and choir will be the Watsonville Community Band.
The Rancho-Maze Middle School Band and choir will hold their holiday concert Friday, Dec. 22 at Rancho San Justo Middle School at 7:30pm.
All bands will play a mix of classical and modern holiday music. Both concerts are perfect for the entire family, and admission is free.
For more information: (831) 636-4450.
Gilroy High School
The five choruses at Gilroy High School will perform Tuesday and Wednesday at the high school’s theater. Doors open at 7:10pm and both performances begin at 7:30pm. Tickets are $5. They will be performing holiday favorites such as “Home for the Holidays,” “Let it Snow” and “Holly Jolly Christmas.”
For more information: (408) 847-2424.
Gavilan College Choir
Come listen to this outstanding chorus as it performs a wide selection of holiday favorites on Friday, Dec. 15 at 7:30pm, at the Morgan Hill Advent Lutheran Church, 16870 Murphy Ave.
For more information: (408) 779-3551.
