Maryland Symphony Orchestra Presents 27th Annual “Home for Holidays” Concerts on Dec. 13 & 14

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Nov. 17, 2014 - PRLog -- Music Director Elizabeth Schulze and the Maryland Symphony Orchestra will kick off the holiday season with its 27th annual “Home for the Holidays” concerts on Saturday, December 13 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 14 at 3 p.m. at the historic Maryland Theatre in downtown Hagerstown.

This year’s guests will be Colleen Daly, soprano; Rob Tudor, baritone; Hagerstown Choral Arts, and the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Concert Choir. And, it wouldn’t be an MSO Christmas celebration without the popular and spirited yuletide sing-along, led by Jolly Old Saint Nick himself.

Musical highlights will include O Holy Night, Sleigh Ride, Ave Maria, Do You Hear What I Hear, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, and Glory to God.

Colleen Daly is rapidly emerging as a “dramatically powerful” (The Washington Post) singer in today’s operatic arena. Miss Daly’s most recent performances include Musetta in La Bohème with Lyric Opera Baltimore and Des Moines Metro Opera; Violetta in Opera Delaware’s production of La Traviata, which she also covered at New York City Opera; Fiordiligi in Così Fan Tutte with Intermountain Opera; Micaëla in Carmen with Baltimore Concert Opera; the Countess in Annapolis Opera’s production of Le nozze di Figaro; and, the title role of Thaïs at Opera Company Middlebury. Next she can be heard as the soprano soloist in Brahms’ Requiem with the Columbus Symphony, in Maryland Symphony Orchestra’s Home for the Holidays Concerts, as Musetta in Annapolis Opera’s production of La Bohème, and as Micaëla in Syracuse Opera’s production of La Tragédie de Carmen. She holds a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University, a Master’s degree from University of Maryland in College Park, and an Artist Diploma from AVA (Academy of Vocal Arts) in Philadelphia.

Rob Tudor enjoys a vibrant career in the genres of opera, early music, musical theatre and cabaret, and as a concert soloist throughout the United States. Among his various national concert engagements he has been featured as a guest artist in the Montana Early Music Festival for the past 7 years and also returns to Montana each summer as an artist and instructor at the Helena Choral Festival. According to The Washington Post, Tudor has a “powerful singing voice” and “notable acting skills.” He received a Doctorate in Musical Arts in Voice Performance from the University of Maryland. He serves as Director of Vocal Activities and Chair of the Department of Music at Shepherd University. Awards include an Individual Artist Award from the Maryland State Arts Council and Artist of the Year from Opera Theatre in Northern Virginia.

Hagerstown Choral Arts, under the direction of Gregory Shook, was founded in 1993 as an auditioned, community-based volunteer chorus dedicated to bringing the highest level of choral music to Hagerstown. HCA has made many appearances with the MSO over the years. Kyle Weary is the Director of the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Concert Choir which is comprised of over 40 vocal or musical theatre majors in grades 9 through 12. The choir has performed with Eric Whitacre for the 2009 NY premiere of his opera, Paradise Lost. They have also been invited to perform at past inaugurations of Govern Martin O’Malley.

Tickets for the concert are $25 for adults, $18 for students and $12 for children, 12 years and younger. They may be purchased online at www.marylandsymphony.org, in person at 30 W. Washington Street (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by calling 301-797-4000. The MSO also offers special rates for groups of 10 or more. For more information on group rates, call the MSO office.

“Home for the Holidays” is presented by Antietam Cable Television, M&T Bank, and Parkway Neuroscience & Spine Institute.

During this year’s concerts, the MSO will be partnering with the U.S. Marine’s TOYS FOR TOTS Foundation and THE SALVATION ARMY to help them meet their missions of assisting those in need throughout Washington County.

On Saturday, December 13, from Noon until the close of the concert, the MSO will be collecting new, unwrapped toys in the lobby of the theatre. Drop off your donations during the day or bring them along to the concert. Every dollar and every donated toy collected for TOYS FOR TOTS stays in the local area.

On Sunday, December 14, from Noon until the close of the concert at 5:00 p.m., the MSO will also be accepting new, unwrapped toys for the Salvation Army’s toy drive. The Salvation Army has been serving the residents of Washington County since 1903.

For those not attending the concerts, or unable to stop by the theatre during the weekend, donations will be accepted at the MSO office during the week preceding the concerts.

The Maryland Symphony Orchestra is the area’s premier professional orchestra, dedicated to providing musical performances that educate and entertain while enhancing the cultural environment of Western Maryland and the surrounding region.