FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hamilton, ON – The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra presents a Canadian classic this holiday season, Home for the Holidays: The Hockey Sweater on Saturday, December 15 at 7:30pm at FirstOntario Concert Hall (formerly Hamilton Place). Led by Music Director Gemma New, we are thrilled to perform Composer-in-Residence Abigail Richardson-Schulte’s musical adaption of The Hockey Sweater alongside the narration of the popular story’s author, Roch Carrier.

The Hockey Sweater brings the hockey arena to the stage. Performed by major orchestras throughout Canada, the HPO presents this nationally acclaimed work by our own resident composer. Richardson-Schulte employs non-traditional yet playful elements throughout her work to musically tell the story of The Hockey Sweater. A hockey scrimmage and shouting musicians onstage are just some of the ways Richardson-Schulte creates a sound world for this beloved children’s narrative.

“I wanted to capture the devastation of receiving the wrong sweater in the mail, and when [Roch] opens the box and lifts the hockey sweater out, we have the most terrible sound from the orchestra. His world is ending, it’s huge,” says Richardson-Schulte.

Musicians give their tuxes a rest and done their favourite hockey jerseys for the performance. Roch Carrier narrates his story alongside Richardson-Schulte’s musical adaptation.

Roch Carrier’s The Hockey Sweater is considered an iconic work of Canadian literature. He was commissioned by the CBC to write an essay about French/English relations following the Quiet Revolution in Quebec. Instead of an essay, The Hockey Sweater was born as he recalled his personal experience as a fan of the Montreal Canadiens, and how he mistakenly received a Toronto Maples Leafs jersey from an Eaton’s catalogue.

Also on the program, the Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and the HPO lead audiences in a sing-along to festive favourites like Sleigh Ride, a piece from The Nutcracker and so much more.

Ticket Information

Home for the Holidays: The Hockey Sweater
Saturday, December 15 at 7:30pm
FirstOntario Concert Hall (formerly Hamilton Place) (1 Summers Ln.)

Gemma New, Conductor
Roch Carrier, Narrator
Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Guest Artist
Inside the Music: Pre-concert Talk in the Great Hall at 6:30pm

Tickets: $25-$67
hpoGO Tickets: $19

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About the HPO: The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1884 as The Hamilton Orchestral Society and grew to become one of Canada’s major professional orchestras. Today, the HPO is a leader in Hamilton’s robust arts community where it provides professional orchestral services and music education programs to address the needs of the community. The HPO continues to commission and premiere works and is one of the artistic jewels of the Hamilton area. The combined musical talents of its artists continue to enrich the community and enhance the quality of life for its residents.    

Media Contacts:

Christina Volpini
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
905.526.1677 X 226
cvolpini@hpo.org

Kim Varian
Director, Development and Communications
Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
905.526.1677 x222
kvarian@hpo.org