A Christmas Concert

A Christmas Concert

Piedmont Symphony Orchestra conductor Glenn Quader.

By Sebastian Langenberg

There’s truly a world-class orchestra, the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, in our own back yard. And proof of their prowess can be found in their yearly holiday concert. On Sunday, Dec. 8, they’ll perform Handel’s stirring Messiah, with a twist, at 3 p.m. at Highland School in Warrenton..

This piece is actually a sing-along. The audience will be provided the words and the music and will be encouraged to sing .

The concert will feature soloists Emily Casey (soprano), Nakia Verner (alto), Jason Labrador (tenor) and Matthew Ogden (bass), along with members of the highly-acclaimed Reston Chorale.

“I love the fact that we fully engage the audience and the energy that you get from the audience participating in that level,” said Kate Garretson, Executive Director of the PSO.

The Messiah was originally composed for Easter, but has now become a fixture of the Christmas season. Handel wrote it over four weeks in 1741, quite a rapid pace, working morning, noon and night. And of the iconic composers of all time, his contemporary, Mozart, once said of him that “Handel knows better than any of us what will make an effect.” “The music speaks for itself,” said Glenn Quader, the versatile conductor and music director for the PSO. A native of Washington D.C., he’s also equally adept in the classical, jazz and popular genres.

The orchestra also will be spotlighting will be performing Vivaldi’s “Triple Violin Concert.” The three featured violinists playing the piece will be Concertmaster H. Lee Brewster, Associate Concertmaster Jason Labrador, and Principal Second Violin Matthew Gattuso.

“I want the audience to get to know our players,” said Quader, who also is hoping for many youngsters to attend. “Thanks to an anonymous donor, all of our student tickets are free.”

That will be the case for all PSO concerts this year, one Garretson’s goal as executive director.

“We want to make classical music accessible,” she said. The orchestra also has been committed to staging more local events, including a performance last year at Buchanan Hall in Upperville, the better to engage the community.

Tickets for the Messiah are priced from $25 to $35. For more information go to www.piedmontsymphony.