TRY TO STUMP SILVER BAND WITH CAROL, HYMN REQUESTS AT DEC. 14 ‘SLEIGHBELLS’ CHRISTMAS CONCERT

  • Audience invited to test musicians with carol challenges at Orillia Opera House

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

ORILLIA — The Orillia Silver Band is putting its musical memory to the test this Sunday as part of its annual Sleighbells and Brass Christmas Concert, inviting the audience to request any carol, hymn or seasonal favourite — whether or not it appears in the band’s book.

“It’s our twist on Name That Tune,” said conductor Neil Barlow, who will lead the holiday program Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. at the Orillia Opera House. “We want people to try to stump us — and to sing along, of course.”

The interactive segment encourages concertgoers to arrive with a carol in mind and a willingness to sing.

“This is part of what makes the concert special every year,” Barlow said. “It’s all about community, celebration and sharing the joy of the season.”

Tickets are $25 and available through the Orillia Opera House box office at https://www.orilliaoperahouse.ca/.

Long-standing musical tradition

The Orillia Silver Band’s holiday concert has become a staple of the city’s December calendar, mixing festive classics with contemporary arrangements.

Barlow says this year’s program offers “plenty of holiday cheer — both new and traditional.”

The afternoon opens with David Roswell’s bright and brassy “Christmas Intrada.” Other selections include:

  • Alfred Reed’s “Russian Christmas Music,” featuring a robust percussion showcase

  • Stephen Bulla’s grand “Christmas Suite”

  • Mel Tormé’s modern standard “Christmas Song”

  • James Curnow’s reflective arrangement of “Stille, Stille, Stille”

  • “A Glenn Miller Christmas,” a swing-style medley of holiday favourites

  • A solo performance of “O Holy Night” by euphonium player Michael Fraser

  • The serene modern choral piece “Lux Aurumque” by Eric Whitacre

“This concert is always a highlight for us,” Barlow said. “There’s something magical about hearing these pieces in the Opera House at Christmastime.”

The band promises “an entertaining afternoon of holiday cheer” — and perhaps a few surprises if the audience succeeds in choosing a tune the musicians don’t know.

 

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