HAMILTON – Throughout this festive season, we look forward to many performances both in and outside of the concert hall. We start with our Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra’s (HPYO) Fall Term Concert on Saturday, November 26. Then, our HPO Brass Quintet performs at Hamilton’s Central Branch Library on Friday, December 2. We then look forward to two performances of Handel’s Messiah on Friday, December 16 and Sunday, December 18 with Bach Elgar Choir at Central Presbyterian Church. We also have HPO’s annual Mainstage holiday concert, Holidays with Gemma New, on Saturday, December 17 featuring the HPYO and Hamilton Children’s Choir.
On Saturday, November 26 at 2pm, HPYO showcases the repertoire they’ve been working on this term at their HPYO Fall Concert at McMaster University’s L.R. Wilson Hall at their first concert of the 22-23 Season, Willms Conducts the HPYO. This will be our new HPYO Music Director David Willms’ first opportunity to conduct an HPYO concert. Musicians’ families and the public are all welcome to attend this concert and support these talented young musicians. Tickets are just $10.00 and can be purchased on hpo.org.
On Friday, December 2 at 12pm, our Brass Quintet bring back a holiday tradition with a free performance of festive favourites at the Hamilton Public Library’s Central Branch in the Hamilton Room!
On Friday, December 16 at 7:30pm and again on Sunday, December 18 at 2pm, we have two performances of Handel’s Messiah with Bach Elgar Choir at Hamilton’s beautiful Central Presbyterian Church (165 Charlton Ave West). HPO Music Director Gemma New is in Hamilton to conduct both performances. This concert features four well-established vocalists as soloists: Meredith Hall (Soprano), Jennifer Enns Modolo (Mezzo Soprano), Benjamin Butterfield (Tenor) and Giles Tomkins (Bass Tenor). We look forward to sharing the stage with our partners Bach Elgar Choir and performing works from Messiah, including one of the most recognizable works of the choral canon, the Hallelujah Chorus.
On Saturday, December 17 at 3pm, we are thrilled to put on our traditional holiday concert, and this year, we have the pleasure of celebrating this festive occasion with Gemma New as conductor. Holidays with Gemma New is a wonderful community collaboration that puts young musicians on stage with the HPO. Both the HPYO and Hamilton Children’s Choir join us at FirstOntario Concert Hall to perform holiday and winter classics. We are thrilled to welcome HPYO’s new Music Director David Willms as narrator for The Night before Christmas. This year, we are very excited to return to one of the most beloved parts of the HPO’s holiday tradition – the singalong finale! Families and audience members of all ages will love this heartwarming festive tradition that brings so many Hamilton communities together through music.
LATE NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2022 EVENT LISTING
Willms Conducts the HPYO
Saturday, November 26 at 2pm
L.R. Wilson Concert Hall at McMaster University
Tickets: $10
Concert Program:
Tchaikovsky (Arr. Christopher Bernotas): March Slav
Bach (Arr. Michael Hindrichs): Brandenburg Concerto No. 4
Morricone (Arr. Robert Longfield): Gabriel’s Oboe
Edvard Grieg (Arr. Richard Meyer): Peer Gynt Suite
Beethoven: Egmont Overture
Jean Sibelius: Suite Mignonne
Mozart: Symphony No. 31, “The Paris Symphony”
Brass Quintet Holiday Performance (HPL Noon Hour Concert)
Friday, December 2 at 12pm
Hamilton Public Library in the Hamilton Room
Handel’s Messiah
Friday, December 16 at 7:30pm (evening)
Sunday, December 18 at 2pm (matinée)
Central Presbyterian Church
165 Charlton Ave W, Hamilton
Tickets: $25 – $40
General admission seating
Holidays with Gemma New
Saturday, December 17 at 3pm
FirstOntario Concert Hall
1 Summers Lane, Hamilton
Tickets: $20-$80
Concert Program:
Anderson: A Christmas Festival
Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Selections (with the HPYO)
John Williams: Home Alone Suite (with Hamilton Children’s Choir)
Bass: The Night Before Christmas (with HPYO Music Director David Willms as narrator)
Anderson: Sleigh ride (with the HPYO)
Rutter: Candlelight Carol and Angel’s Carol (with Hamilton Children’s Choir)
Stephenson: Holly Jolly Sing-Along (with HPYO and Hamilton Children’s Choir)
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Twitter: @H_P_O
Instagram: @HamiltonPhilharmonic
Facebook: facebook.com/HamiltonPhilharmonic/
YouTube: youtube.com/HamiltonPhilharmonic
About the HPO: For over a century, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra has presented orchestral music and education programs with a mission to enrich the wellbeing of the greater Hamilton region. Music Director Gemma New and the professional musicians of the HPO present dynamic orchestral performances ranging from standard classical repertoire to popular music and world premieres by living composers. As one of Canada’s leading professional orchestras, the HPO has proudly contributed to the shaping of Hamilton’s cultural landscape and continues to uphold values of high calibre, inclusive and accessible orchestral music and education for all.
Facebook: facebook.com/hpyorchestra
Instagram: @hpyorchestra
About the HPYO: The HPYO is the foremost student-based symphony orchestra in the Greater Hamilton region and the flagship education program of the HPO. Founded by Glenn Mallory in 1965, the HPYO has given the joy of orchestral music to generations of young people and has delighted thousands of audience members. Graduates of the orchestra are involved in professional and community orchestras across Canada, in the United States and in Europe.
Following the July 2021 merger of the HPYO and the HPO, Megan Benjafield was hired as General Manager for the HPYO in the spring of 2022. Her administrative leadership will now be complemented by David Willms’ artistic leadership, and with these two leaders at the helm, the HPO has every confidence that the HPYO will flourish and thrive as it moves back to a full season of in-person programming.
Media Contacts:
| Megan Nourse Marketing and Communications Manager Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra 905.526.1677 x 209 mnourse@hpo.org | Kyla Lacroix Bardsley Marketing and Communications Coordinator Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra 905.526.1677 x 211 klacroix@hpo.org |
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 18,. 2022