It'll be a mix of old and new holiday songs when a Chilliwack orchestra brings its annual concert to the stage.
The Chilliwack Metropolitan Orchestra presents A Traditional Christmas Concert on Dec. 8 at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre.
Conductor Gregory Johnson has chosen an eclectic program blending sacred and popular music with many old favourites and some new additions to the Christmas repertoire.
The orchestra will be joined by soloist Lauren Solomon.
She is a character mezzo-soprano and will sing a number of the sacred pieces including Ave Maria and The Holy City, but also a humorous Christmas Patter Song - The Day After Christmas. This is the second time she has sang with the CMO as she was a member of the choir when the orchestra presented its Titanic concert in April.
Solomon is a graduate of the UBC opera program where she performed roles such as: ‘Mme. De la Haltière‘ in Cendrillon and ‘Mrs. Herring’ in Albert Herring. She has gone on to perform the roles of ‘Sister Mathilde’ in Dialogue of the Carmilites (Opera Nuova), Principessa’ in Suor Angelica/ Zita in Gianni Schicci(Vancouver Academy Opera Studio), ‘Marcellina’, in Le Nozze di Figaro (Dragon Diva Opera), ‘Witch’ in Hansel and Gretel as well as ‘Dritte Dame’ in Die Zauberflöte (ViVace).
In 2017, she made her debut with Vancouver Opera in Turandot (chorus) and sang the role of ‘Berta’ in Burnaby Lyric Opera’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Two years later, she sang the role of Zita in Gianni Schicci with Opera Mariposa. Most recently Solomon performed with Gallery 7 in the Sound of Music as ‘Sister Berthe’ (March 2019).
When not performing, Solomon is an elementary music-and-voice teacher and is passionate about spreading the joy of music to children. She will be bringing her elementary school children’s choir along on Dec. 8.
Additionally, the orchestra board will be hosting a silent auction in the lobby. Items include a hand-woven mohair shawl, quilted items, jewelry, gift baskets and porcelain. There will also be a free raffle at concert intermission.
The Chilliwack Metropolitan Orchestra presents A Traditional Christmas Concert on Dec. 8 at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre at 3 p.m. Tickets are $45 for adults and $40 for students and seniors. They are on sale through the Chilliwack Cultural Centre box office, online at chilliwackculturalcentre.ca, or by calling 604-391-SHOW.
