Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Celebrates the Holidays at Highmark Holiday Pops, Now thru 12/21

PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra celebrates the holiday season at HighMark Holiday Pops with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and an all-star cast of guest artists tonight, Dec. 12, 13, 14, 15, 20 and 21. Audiences also can enjoy Heinz Hall decorated beautifully for the holidays, complete with a 25-foot tree in the Grand Lobby!

Renowned conductor Todd Ellison will lead this festive series of concerts featuring classic carols, such as "Joy to the World," "Deck the Hall" and "Silent Night," along with other seasonal favorites such as the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah, Marvin Hamlisch's "Chanukah Lights" and "A 'Spike Jones' Jingle Bells" played by the Pittsburgh Symphony Brass. Principal trumpet George Vosburgh will solo on the well-known "The Christmas Song." Also on stage will be vocalists Christopher Sanders, Nikki Renée Daniels, Vanessa Campagna, James Fedor Jr. and Ricky Manning. And there might just be a special visit from Santa to bring more delightful surprises!

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday; 8 p.m. on Friday; 2:30 and 8 p.m. on Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets, ranging in price from $21 to $99, can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at 412-392-4900, or by visiting pittsburghsymphony.org.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra would like to recognize and thank Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield for its 2013 title sponsorship of HighMark Holiday Pops.

Fairmont Pittsburgh is the official hotel of the Pittsburgh Symphony.

Hailed by The New York Times as one of "Broadway's electric conductors," Todd Ellison is one of the most accomplished and sought-after music directors working today. Currently music director and conductor of the new Broadway production of Annie, his credits include "Monty Python's Spamalot," "La Cage aux Folles," "42nd Street," Elton John's "Lestat," "Once Upon a Mattress" (starring Sarah Jessica Parker), "How To Succeed" (starring Matthew Broderick) and "She Loves Me. He was the music director of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the famed Radio City Music Hall for several seasons." Internationally, he has conducted at the Vienna Konzerthaus with Dawn Upshaw and Jerry Hadley, The Dublin Film Orchestra and Radio City Christmas Spectacular in Mexico City. He has conducted more than 20 albums, including the Grammy Award-winning cast albums of his shows.

The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh (MCP), a chorus of 120 that includes a 20-voice professional core, is renowned for its versatility, singing oratorio, opera, Broadway, folk and symphonic repertoire. Founded in 1908, the MCP holds the distinction of being Pittsburgh's oldest continuously performing arts organization. The choir, in its 104th season and sixth under the direction of Betsy Burleigh, is known for its mastery of the great choral classics. The MCP is a Steinway Artist, the only chorus holding that designation.

Christopher Sanders is an award-winning actor/singer and has performed in venues around the world. Throughout his career, he has had the pleasure of working with George Hearn, Roddy McDowell, Carol Lawrence, John Raitt, Debbie Boone and Rosemary Clooney. Theatrical credits include "Kiss Me Kate," "Les Miserables," "Jekyll and Hyde," Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," "South Pacific," "Man of La Mancha," "My Fair Lady" and "Into the Woods." His concert work includes engagements with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Symphony, Pasadena Pops and The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber at the National Theatre and Concert Hall Taiwan. Sanders tours the country as the baritone for the legendary 1940s singing group, The Pied Pipers. Earlier this year, Sanders released his first solo CD, "Curtain Call."

Nikki Renée Daniels made her Broadway debut as Nehebka in Aida. Since then, the talented actress has worked on Broadway in "Nine," "The Look of Love," "Lestat," "Les Miserables," "Little Shop of Horrors," "Promises, Promises" and "Anything Goes." She last appeared on Broadway as Clara in the 2012 Tony Award-winning revival of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, singing the iconic song "Summertime."

At only 10 years old, Vanessa Campagna was chosen out of 24,000 youngsters to appear on CBS's "Star Search." Since then, she has shared the stage with some of the greatest artists in the music industry such as Reba, Sugarland, Trace Adkins, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Loretta Lynn, Keith Urban and more. It was in Nashville, Tenn., that Vanessa recorded her first two albums, "Vanessa Campagna" and "Can You Hear Me Now." For her third CD, "For You," Campagna wrote all but one of the songs and co-produced the album.

James Fedor Jr. is a student at Mon Yough Catholic School. He enjoys singing, and plays guitar and piano. He is a member of The Children's Festival Chorus of Pittsburgh and performed in "Hansel and Gretel" with the Pittsburgh Opera.

Ricky Manning, a greater Pittsburgh native, is a detective with the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office with 13 years of service. Manning's first inspiration was music and although his path has taken him to a career of civil service, he continues to vehemently pursue music. Manning is a graduate of Central Catholic High School, the Allegheny County Police Training Academy and Point Park University. Manning also is a singer, guitarist, percussionist and highland bagpiper. He was a member of the Carnegie Mellon University Pipes and Drums for 12 years. Manning performs with singer/songwriter Mark Pipas & The Sleaze Band and local Irish artist Sean McClorey, performing at a multitude of venues throughout the greater Pittsburgh area. He also has recorded with local guitarist/songwriter James "Doc" Dougherty.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Brass was organized by George Vosburgh in 1994 with an emphasis on featuring some of the world's finest orchestral brass musicians playing in chamber ensemble. The result has been a unique blend of virtuosity with brilliant sonority usually associate with orchestral brass. The ensemble, all of whom are member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, endeavors to stretch the limitation of performance and explore a wide range of musical expressions rarely achieved in brass music. The six members include George Vosburgh and Neal Berntsen on trumpet, William Caballero on horn, Peter Sullivan on trombone, Murray Crewe on bass trombone and Craig Knox on tuba.

George Vosburgh, celebrated soloist and lecturer, is internationally acclaimed for his virtuosity on the trumpet in recordings, concerts and recitals, as well as many guest artist performances in such locales as the Bonn Festival at Rolandsek, Germany, the Ravinia Festival, Chicago, and the Curs Internacional de Musica in Valencia, Spain. In 1992, he joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as principal trumpet. In 1994, Vosburgh organized the Pittsburgh Symphony Brass, a unique brass ensemble featuring some of the world's finest orchestral brass musicians in chamber ensemble. Since 1998, the Brass has enjoyed a flurry of recording and performance activity, releasing five CDs, including Bach's "The Art of Fugue" on the Four Winds label.

To post a comment, you must register and login.