The Federal Way Symphony kicks off the 2022 Christmas season with “Holiday Traditions” at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. The concert’s first half features well-known holiday melodies arranged by three different composers.
The second half will be a suite of best-loved choruses from Handel’s Messiah, concluding with the soaring “Hallelujah” chorus. Tickets are available at fwpaec.org or 253-835-7010.
“One of the priorities in my directorship of the Federal Way Symphony was to revive, as soon as possible after COVID, the orchestra’s deeply-missed performances of Handel’s masterpiece,” said Symphony Music Director Adam Stern. “Presenting some of its best-known choral selections seemed a good way to bridge the gap and prepare for future performances of the entire work.”
The Federal Way Chorale will once again join the Symphony to perform works from the Messiah.
“We are thrilled to be back on stage with the Federal Way Symphony,” said Chorale President Leslie Bradley. “And we’re pleased this long-time collaboration can once again bring beautiful music to our community.”
Among the choruses the groups will perform is “And the Glory of the Lord,” “For Unto Us A Child is Born,” and, of course, “Hallelujah.”
The concert also includes “Christmas Bells (A Yuletide Fantasy)” by Erno Rapee, “Serenade of Carols” by Morton Gould, and “Christmas: A Medley of Well-Known Carols” by Arthur Harris.
“A lot of Christmas medleys are, frankly, pretty cheesy,” Stern said. “These three selections are creative and festive bouquets of Christmas songs and carols, assembled by master musical craftsmen, and are a joy to perform and listen to.”
Concertgoers are urged to arrive early to enjoy carols and merriment with Jet Cities Chorus in the PAEC lobby starting at 1:45 p.m. The concert concludes by 4 p.m., in time for patrons to proceed down the grand staircase to the City of Federal Way tree lighting in Town Square Park.
Tickets for the concert are $35 adult, $25 senior/military and free for youth under 18.
“We are thrilled to be able to continue our policy of free tickets for children and youth,” said new Symphony President Brandan Jenkins-Moak. “It is one of our missions to nurture the next generation of symphony patrons and performers and we thank all of our donors for making these free tickets possible.”
All Federal Way Symphony concerts are at the Federal Way Performing Arts & Event Center, 31510 Pete von Reichbauer Way South, which offers convenient access to I-5 and ample free parking.
More information about the concert may be found at federalwaysymphony.org.
