Candlelight Concert to Light Up the Town

New traditions will combine with old in this year's Candlelight Concert at Wilton High School, to be performed on Wednesday, December 16th, at 7:30 p.m. in the Clune Center for the Arts.  Over 200 orchestra and choral students, under the direction of music teachers Marty Meade and Betsey de Groff, will present an array of seasonal favorites and concert classics.

This year's new tradition is a community-sing "Hallelujah Chorus," a hit upon its debut at last year's concert and back by popular demand. Experienced singers among the audience who have sung Handel's classic are invited to join the Concert Choir, 150 voices strong, in its performance, accompanied by the Symphonic Orchestra. 

"Returning graduates home for the holidays were so excited to be able to sing with us again!" said de Groff, speaking about last year's response.

Choral groups will present such holiday favorites as "The Wassail Song," "Ding Dong Merrily on High,"  "Ya Ba Bom," "Hashivenu," and "Home for the Holidays."  The Bottom Line, the ever-popular men's chorus, will sing an arrangement of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" as performed by the men's a cappella group Straight No Chaser.

Orchestral pieces will include "Sleeper's Awake," by J.S. Bach, and the "Overture" and "Pastorale Symphony" from Handel's Messiah.  Orchestra and chorus combined will perform Haydn's "Achieved is Thy Glorious Work" from The Creation and Holst's holiday medley, "Christmas Day."

The concert concludes with its namesake recessional, candlelit in a darkened auditorium, to the quietly moving "Velvet Shoes."

All are welcome.  Donations will be gratefully accepted.