Orchestra of Northern NY Presents Holiday Concerts

POTSDAM - The Orchestra of Northern New York, the region's only professional symphony orchestra, invites the public to come "Home for the Holidays," when it presents its popular holiday concerts December 11 - 13.

Celebrate this joyful season with a wonderful collection of new and old holiday favorites, including O Holy Night, Ave Maria, Greensleeves, White Christmas, The Night before Christmas, and more.

North Country Public Radio personality and renowned guitarist Barb Heller will narrate "The Night Before Christmas," the classic Clement Moore poem with an arrangement by Philip Lane. Best known for her role as on-air host for North Country Public Radio in Canton, Heller has been on the air since 1989 in the North Country, and a host for Folk Alley.com, an online music service, since 2005.  She’s also a guitarist/songwriter with five albums to her credit, and has taught hundreds of teens and adults how to play finger-style guitar.

Soprano Colleen Skull, newcomer to the Crane School of Music Artist Faculty this year, will be the featured soloist performing "O Holy Night" and Schubert's "Ave Maria." A Visiting Professor of Voice at the Crane School of Music, Skull completed her Doctorate in Musical Arts, specializing in voice performance at the University of Toronto. She has won many awards and prizes including the Metropolitan Opera District Competition, a Chalmers Award and a Professional Artist Grant from the Canada Council for the Arts.

Performances are 7:30 p.m., Friday, December 11 at Hosmer Hall, SUNY Potsdam, and 7:30 p.m., Saturday, December 12 at First Presbyterian Church, Watertown, the latter sponsored by Watertown Savings Bank. Tickets are $22 adults, $18 for seniors (62+) and military, and $5 for students, 6-17. They can be obtained by calling 267-2277 or visiting www.onny.org

The final performance on Sunday, December 13 at 3 p.m. benefits Massena Music Friends, a booster club supporting musical endeavors in the Massena School District. Tickets are $15 adults, and $12 for seniors and students. They are available at Season's Specialty Gifts, 27 West Orvis, 764-7671 or Phil and Jackie's, 69 Main St., 764-7844.          

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