Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s
5th Annual Holiday Pops Concert
Winter Wonderland: Indoors and Out!

Joyous holiday sounds of community spirit rose from the aisles of the historic Egyptian Theatre in downtown DeKalb on Saturday, December 15, 2007 as the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of conductor Linc Smelser, presented Winter Wonderland.

In addition to the traditional moving performance of the well-trained orchestra, the second half of the concert united the talents of the musicians with the enthusiastic involvement of a nearly full house, despite the challenges Mother Nature threw at DeKalb county roadways all afternoon and evening.

About 35 kids gathered in front of the stage, chose a rhythm instrument from a wide selection and chimed in on Haydn’s The Toy Symphony and March of the Toys (from Babes in Toyland). And at the close of  Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s 5th annual holiday pops concert the entire audience was invited to participate in an old-fashioned sing-a-long of nine holiday classics.

The program that showcased the orchestra’s gifts included cello soloist Tom Cappaert on Stille Nacht, a woodwind presentation of The Twelve Days of Christmas and the Festive Sounds of Hanukkah (both arranged by Bill  Holcombe); A Christmas Festival and Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson; Ralph Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Greensleeves (featuring Lynn Vogl and Ina Simon on flutes and Brittney Woessner on harp) and selections from The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71A by P.I. Tchaikovsky.

Bread and Roses, an area women's choir, sang for the audience during intermission and the Northern Illinois Cello Ensemble and the KSO Brass quintet provided entertainment before and after the concert. Cookies and treats were offered to the audience at the end of the evening, along with spiced cider donated by Hillside Restaurant. The program was partially supported by the George E. Dutton and Betty B. Dutton Foundation and the Illinois Arts Council.

A company of professional, student, and dedicated amateur musicians, the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit community group that has provided a venue for local musicians to showcase their talents in an orchestral setting since 1976. For additional information call 815-756-3728 or visit www.kishorchestra.org (email: KSOMgr@kishorchestra.org).