Submitted by Olympia Symphony Orchestra
It has been one year since the Olympia Symphony Orchestra’s debut Holiday Singalong, “Home for the Holidays” at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts — a full-house, stand-room-only event that left the South Sound begging for it to become a tradition. Undeterred by pandemic restrictions and shifting regulations on gathering, the Olympia Symphony is responding with creativity and a spirit of collaboration.
On Tuesday, December 22, at 7:00 p.m. the Olympia Symphony will present “(At) Home for the Holidays,” a live, free virtual concert available on their website and YouTube channel. The original concept was to record 21 socially distanced musicians on the Washington Center for the Performing Arts stage, with singalong leaders directing the virtual audience through familiar holiday tunes. However, with gathering restrictions elevated and health and safety as a priority, the format was quickly shifted to a potpourri of at-home performances of Olympia Symphony musicians. “Although disappointed that we could not come together on a stage, we embraced the opportunity to invite our musicians to be creative. Some incorporated household family members to accompany them, and some recorded virtual duets, trios, quartets, and quintets alongside ‘clones’ of themselves,” said OSO executive director Jennifer Hermann.
The concert will also premiere a new composition, “Variations on Pastures of Plenty,” composed by students at Tumwater Hill Elementary and Peter G Schmidt Elementary. This piece is the culminating project of a ten-week joint virtual workshop collaboration between the Olympia Symphony and Emerald City Music (ECM). During the fall, students met weekly with ECM Teaching Artists Claire Bryant and Brad Balliett and OSO musicians to learn about orchestral instruments and the “composer’s toolbox.” Fifth grade students created the concept for the work, composer Brad Balliett set their ideas to music, and the piece was scheduled to be performed and recorded by the Olympia Symphony on the stage of Benaroya Hall in Seattle. Again, statewide restrictions prevented live musicians from gathering, so a virtual recording was assembled instead, and will be included on the holiday program.
In addition to OSO musicians, the concert features holiday performances by two community organizations who have also made drastic adaptations during the pandemic, Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia (SOGO) and South Puget Sound Community College Percival Choir. As a whole, the concert utilizes 122 musicians, 5 collaborating organizations, 46 student composers, 6 audio/visual artists, and 4 community sponsors (Olympic Dermatology & Laser Clinic, Olympic Rental & Landlord Services, Capital Heating & Cooling, and Thomas Architecture Studios). It is truly a reflection of community partnership and togetherness.
Following the grand finale, which features 39 OSO musicians performing an excerpt from Leroy Anderson’s “A Holiday Festival,” guests will be invited to join the “Jingle Jukebox” Singalong, live on Zoom. OSO executive director Jennifer Hermann will host the event from her piano, taking live requests for singalong tunes. Although the concert is free, the accompanying “Jingle Jukebox” after-party is by donation. Any donation made now through 8pm on December 22 opens the door to the singalong. A Zoom link is included in the donation receipt.
The OSO is also offering personalized holiday video telegrams for the community. “Musical Notes” feature a choice of 16 holiday tunes and 20 selections for other occasions (birthday, wedding, sympathy, thank you, or “just because”). Holiday Musical Notes must be ordered by December 20.
For more information about the concert or to order telegrams, please visit www.olympiasymphony.org. Download the concert program here.
