MUSIC FOR AN OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
Three concerts sponsored by the Dahlonega Arts Council as part of Dahlonega's Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration - each one a great family event:

• The weekend of December 4, The Forsyth Wind Quintet will be performing two concerts of music for the Christmas season in the Music Hall at the Buisson Arts Center (former Folkways building), just off the square in Dahlonega:
  8pm on Saturday, Dec. 4th
  2pm on Sunday, December 5th.
  
  

The ensemble members are accomplished musicians who regularly perform with larger orchestras throughout North Georgia. The group was formed a few years ago to fill the need for a smaller ensemble that would be suitable for small venue concerts, cultural events, weddings and the like. Quintet members are Jocelyn Crist - flute, Michael Laird - oboe, Angela Ross - clarinet, John Pirtle - horn and Lynn Gravitt playing the bassoon.

This program of interesting and unique arrangements of music of the season will be introduced by oboist Michael Laird, who offers some interesting history. The program will include: "Chrissemas Day in the Morning" (I Saw Three Ships) an English traditional piece first published in 1666 and put to music by Gustov Holst (1874-1934); the haunting "Coventry Carol" (England 1500s); "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert (1825); "Let It Snow" by Sammy Cahn; "Dance of the Reed Pipes" by Tchaikovsky; A Christmas Jazz Suite; Carol of the Bells; and a song based on a poem by Joseph Mohr, a young German priest, in 1816 and put to music (originally with guitar accompaniment) in one day by Franz Gruber and performed that night by the duo at midnight mass - originally known as a "Tyrolean Folk Song" - we know it today as "Silent Night". (Go to www.forsythwindquintet.com for more information about the performers.)

This will be an event for the whole family! On Saturday, December 4th, you can partake of the Christmas Parade around the Square at 4:30 PM, stroll/shop/dine and enjoy the holiday atmosphere of Dahlonega with the lighting of the square at 7:00 PM, see The Festival of Trees at the Buisson Arts Center Gallery, and then come to the Buisson Music Hall for the first concert of the Quintet at 8:00 PM. The second concert will be held Sunday, December 5th at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $10 adults / $5 students for the Saturday performance and $8 / $4 for the Sunday matinee. Reserved seating tickets can be purchased at the Buisson Arts Center Gallery (open daily) or you can call (706) 867-0050 to buy via credit card. The Buisson Arts Center Gallery is hosting the DAC sponsored Festival Of Trees Dec. 3rd - 5th.


• The Beethoven Chamber Orchestra will perform at 2pm on Sunday, December 12 at the Buisson Arts Center Music Hall (formerly Folkways). The orchestra will be conducted by Thomas Ludwig, who in 1996 founded the Ludwig Symphony Orchestra, dedicated to helping the careers of young musicians and soloists from around the world.

  The Ludwig Symphony has developed into an eighty-piece orchestra with a smaller chamber group - The Beethoven Chamber Orchestra. Maestro Ludwig has served as resident conductor for the American Ballet Theatre and Mikhail Baryshnikov at the Metropolitan Opera House and has conducted professional orchestras of London, Prague, Italy and across the USA from New York to LA. (Go to: www.ludwigsymphony.org for more information).

  Soloist for the Buisson concert will be flutist Jeana Meliilli, currently piccoloist in the South Carolina Philharmonic. She has appeared as soloist with the Washington Chamber Orchestra and the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. The concert will include pieces by Mendelssohn, Bach, Ravel and Vivaldi as well as a medley of holiday carols. This will be a real treat for the whole family. Tickets are $10 adults and $5 students for reserved seating. Call the Buisson Arts Center at (706) 867-0050 to buy by phone with a credit card or stop by the Buisson Gallery.
  
  

• The Sounds of Christmas will be presented at the Holly Theater on Friday, December 17 and Saturday, December 18 at 8pm - combining the talents of The Holly Theatre Singers from the Holly Theatre Company and the The Sounds of Sawnee Concert Band from Cumming.

  The program is a wonderful array of Christmas music including selections from the Messiah, traditional Christmas carols and arrangements for band and chorus of popular Christmas songs, including selections from the movie "White Christmas". The Holly did Christmas Music Review several years ago to a sell-out audiences. The Sounds of Sawnee Concert Band has performed all around the North Atlanta area and two years ago played at Dahlonega's Family Day 4th of July Celebration. This will be a wonderful family event just before the Christmas holiday. Tickets are $10 adults and $7 students and can be purchased at the Holly Theater Box Office (706) 864-3759 or you can buy on-line at www.hollytheater.com Proceeds of these concerts will go to the Holly and the Sounds of Sawnee Band for needed equipment and improvements includng a new timpani set.
  

Click to join the Dahlonega Arts Council!

Monthly calendars: January February March April MayJune July August September October November December