A must-see Christmas concert presented by the Surrey Symphony Society, Dec. 4, 7 p.m. at Chandos Pattison Auditorium (10238 168 St.) will feature a wide range of seasonal music treats – including a screening of the animated favourite The Snowman with live accompaniment by the Intermediate Strings, directed by Carla Birston.
The concert will also include Mendelssohn’s joyful ‘Italian’ Symphony No. 4 performed by the Surrey Youth Orchestra, under the baton of conductor Dr. Rick Dorfer.
And for the first time, the Surrey Youth Orchestra and the organization’s Junior Strings (directed by Erin Van Kooten) will join forces on stage in a performance of Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols, also featuring baritone solo vocalist Willy Miles-Grenzberg.
The Junior Strings take the part of the chorus in a new arrangement specially prepared by Dorfer.
The performance of The Snowman, which will also feature boy soprano Sean Thomas, is a follow up to the local debut with Birston’s Semiahmoo Strings three years ago.
“The challenge for the students is to avoid the temptation to look at the screen, because it’s critical they stay right with the conductor,” said arranger Harold Birston who created the just for strings version of Howard Blake’s original score.
“Carla has watched the film at least 50 times and has the score memorized so she can make sure the orchestra and picture are perfectly synchronized.”
Tickets ($15, $10 students and seniors) are available by emailing gm.surreysymphony@gmail.com or at 604-856-8947.