The Hillsdale College Symphony Orchestra will demonstrate technical prowess and offer a bit of nostalgic holiday cheer as it performs a monumental classical work and popular Christmas pieces for its last concert of the semester.
The orchestra will perform Saturday, Dec. 1 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 2 at 3:00 p.m. in Markel Auditorium. Doors will open 30 minutes before the concert.
Professor of Music James Holleman looks forward to the opportunity to showcase his students’ work.
“Rehearsals have been very focused; students brought the energy. I think it’s going to come off well,” he said.
Junior Natalia Bodnar said that preparing for the concert was challenging, yet rewarding for the orchestra.
“We have grown together musically. I know our performance this weekend will be reflective of all the hard work and practice of these past weeks,” she said.
The concert will open with Johannes Brahms’s Symphony No. 4 in E minor. According to Holleman this is a difficult piece to master, and he and the orchestra have put a lot of time and effort into learning it.
“We talk about Great Books in literature; this is one of the ‘Great Works’ in music,” he said.
Bodnar is excited to perform the symphony, and agrees that it is terrific.
“This symphony is a masterpiece of art, a very mature composition and an absolute joy to play,” she said. “I get chills performing it!”
Following the symphony and an intermission, the orchestra will amuse audience members with a collection of symphonic Christmas pop songs that will include a “Christmas at the Movies” medley and a variety of classic Christmas songs.
“Expect a real Christmas flare,” said Holleman. “We want to provide a little end-of-semester fun.”
Admission is free, but tickets must be reserved through the box office. To request tickets, call 517-607-2848 or email boxoffice@hillsdale.edu.
A jazz afterglow will follow Saturday’s concert.