The Marshall Philharmonic Orchestra, in its 61st season, will once again share the stage with the Marshall Community Chorus on Sunday, Dec. 3 in its annual Christmas Celebration. The concert will begin at 2:30 p.m. in the Harold L. Lickey Auditorium of Bueker Middle School in Marshall.
The concert will feature more than 80 musicians and will be under the direction of Kevin Lines and Ron Sayer.
The concert is free and open to the public and is appropriate for holiday music lovers of all ages. As per tradition for this event, attendees are asked to bring non-perishable food items to be donated to the Community Food Pantry.
Sunday’s program will include Christmas carols and music from centuries-old through the 20th century collected from around the world. American and English composers’ works will be featured, including “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson, “Sussex Carol” by rising choral arranger Elaine Hagenberg, and “The Very Best Time of the Year” by Britain’s esteemed John Rutter. Also included will be a mysterious and intriguing work by Brian Balmages, “Fantasia on We Three Kings.” This programmatic work is an American composition depicting the journey of the three kings to Bethlehem to see the Christ child.
In honor of Christmas past, hymns on Sunday’s program will be a Robert W. Smith arrangement of “Angels, From the Realms of Glory” from 19th Century England, Gustav Holst’s “In the Bleak Mid-Winter,” arranged by Keith Christopher, and a poignant hymn dating back to fourth Century Jerusalem, “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.”
"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" follows the outrageous shenanigans of the Herdman siblings, or “the worst kids in the history of the world.” The siblings take over the annual Christmas pageant in a hilarious yet heartwarming tale involving the Three Wise Men, a ham, scared shepherds, and six rowdy kids. The play is holiday fun for the entire family.
The show is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 7-9 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10. Tickets are $12-$17.
