Havertown student solos at WCU annual holiday program
The West Chester University Wells School of Music presents the 97th Annual Holiday Program on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 3 p.m. in the Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall in the Philips Memorial Building at 700 S. High Street, West Chester.
Each year, an honors soloist is chosen to sing “O Holy Night”. This year’s soloist is Havertown native Kathryn Corbino., a senior, double majoring in Music Performance for Voice and Music Education. In addition to “O Holy Night”, Corbino is the soprano soloist for “In Terra Pax.”
An annual tradition for campus and community members, the Holiday Program at West Chester is just one of over 300 programs presented annually by the Wells School of Music. The program involves many of the school’s students and ensembles. Ryan Kelly, an Associate Professor at the Wells School of Music and the Associate Director of Choral Activities, directs the program, alongside multiple conductors.
Tickets are $12 and on-sale now at www.wcupatix.com or 610.436.2266.
The concert lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes. Limited parking is available across and along the street just outside the Philips Memorial Building. Parking is also available in West Chester’s M Lot, just a short walk away. Purchasing tickets in advance is strongly encouraged. To ease box office congestion, day-of sales are cash only.
Symphony orchestra at WCU
The Wells School of Music’s esteemed Symphony Orchestra presents a benefit concert on Thursday, Nov. 29, at 8:15 p.m., in the Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre in the Swope Music Building and Performing Arts Center, 817 S. High Street, West Chester.
The West Chester University Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Joseph Caminiti, will donate all concert proceeds to the West Chester University Resource Pantry. The concert is free and open to the public, but cash and check donations will be accepted, and ambassadors from the WCU Resource Pantry will be onsite to answer questions and collect donations.
A pre-concert reception, including a mini concert, starts at
7:30 p.m. in the lobby.
The WCU Resource Pantry helps students with financial need by providing non-perishable food, fresh produce, personal care items, school supplies and winter and career clothing.
Faculty cellist, Ovidiu Marinescu, is a featured soloist, and on the program is Butterworth, A Shropshire Lad Rhapsody; Elgar, Cello Concerto in E Minor; and Shostakovich, Symphony No.
1 in F Minor.
‘Christmas Carol’ at Penn Wood
On Stage Productions Inc. presents the Charles Dickens’ class “A Christmas Carol” at Penn Wood High School.
The classic saga of Ebeneezer Scrooge will be performed 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Cypress Street campus, 600 Cypress St.
For more information contact Director Denise Wortham at 267560-3650.
Tree Lighting in Collingdale
The Collingdale Borough Parks & Recreation Board is sponsoring the Annual Tree Lighting and Visit with Santa on Sunday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.
Santa will arrive by fire truck to light the tree and decorations in front of the Collingdale Community Center located at 800 MacDade Blvd. Santa will visit with the children in the gym following the tree lighting. There will be holiday music and refreshments provided.
Tree Lighting in Aldan
Aldan Boosters will hold their annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony Saturday, Dec. 1.
Train and carriage rides start at 5:30 p.m.. Tree lighting is set for 6:30.
In celebration of Aldan’s 125th anniversary, the Aldan Boosters are closing this year out with special events. Miniature train rides will be available in the municipal building parking lot and horsedrawn carriage rides through town also will be featured. The William Penn brass band, facepainting and other holiday events will part of the evening.
Neumann presents ‘Navigates the Middle’
The Cultural Arts Forum at Neumann University will present Heidi Hayes in “Navigating The Middle” 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, in the Fred P. Meagher Theatre in the Thomas A. Bruder, Jr. Life Center on campus. Admission is $10 and free for Cultural Arts Forum members. In the course of fourteen months, Heidi Hayes survived many life changing events, which she chronicled in her book Navigating The Middle. The book is a collection of stories and songs that celebrate modern life. Hayes is a singer, actor, arts educator and blogger. Her many credits include a nine month tour in Troika Entertainment’s Sister Act and as Mamma Lilly in Hank Williams: Lost Highway at the Gretna Theatre in Mt. Gretna Pennsylvania. Hayes is a longtime faculty member at the Walnut Street Theatre School and maintains a private voice studio in Bryn Mawr and New York City. The event is presented by the Cultural Arts Forum, which has been sponsoring events to support adult women students at Neumann University through the endowed scholarship named in honor of the founder of the Forum, Margaret Mary Kearney. Since its founding in 1970, the Forum has presented more than 250 events and seminars. For more information, contact Nicholas DiMarino at 610-558-5626 or at dimarinn@neumann.edu/.
Media Chamber Chorale Concerts
Media Chamber Chorale will present “Our Favorite Things – Rutter’s Gloria and Holiday Highlights” concert 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7 at Wallingford Presbyterian Church and at 3 p.m. Saturday Dec. 8 at Swarthmore United Methodist Church. In celebrating 15 years under the direction of John Stroud, members of the 50-voice choir have chosen their holiday favorites from concerts spanning those years. The main work for this year’s concert will be John Rutter’s joyful Gloria, with brass and typani. Other selections include traditional English and Basque carols, Leroy Anderson’s A Christmas Festival, African and gospel-inspired carols, a lively Ladino song for Chanukah, and Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus. Both churches are handicap accessible. Refreshments will be served after each concert. Tickets are now available from choir members as well as online at www.mediachamberchorale.org. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors 62+ and students. Tickets will also be available at the door.