The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra’s annual “Home for the Holidays” concert of choral and instrumental holiday pops this year will include a world premiere of “For Behold from Henceforth,” by Pittsburgh-based composer Nancy Galbraith.
Also featuring guest conductor Maria Sensi Sellner, the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21 at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg.
“For me, ‘Home for the Holidays’ has always been about sharing our special traditions with each other, the parts of ourselves that define ‘home,’ so I’m thrilled to bring Nancy’s work to Greensburg,” says Sellner, a Westmoreland County native. “Her music draws from a myriad of influences, but is inherently American. In many ways Nancy’s music is as much a part of my musical heritage as Verdi, Copland or Bach.”
The piece is based on a section of Galbraith’s 2002 “Magnificat” and will feature soprano soloist Meghan DeWald.
The program also includes “Jingle Bells Forever,” “March of the Toys,” “Sleigh Ride,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and more holiday favorites.
The All-Star Choir of Westmoreland County, directed by Derry Area High School choral teacher Melody Vigo, will joins the symphony for four selections, including “Silent Night.” The choir comprises 60 students from Belle Vernon, Burrell, Derry, Greensburg-Salem, Greensburg Central Catholic and Ligonier Valley high schools.
The choir will lead an audience sing-along before closing with the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah,” an annual tradition.
DeWald’s selections will include “Hanukkah Medley” and “White Christmas,” among others. DeWald has performed with the Pittsburgh Festival Opera and the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland.
Sellner is the artistic and general director of Resonance Works Pittsburgh, a multi-modal performing arts company she founded in 2013. She is a cover conductor for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and artistic administrator for Blackburn Music Academy at Festival Napa Valley in Napa, Calif.
Galbraith is chair of composition at the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music. Her compositions are featured on numerous recordings.
Tickets from $16-61 are available at 724-837-1850 or westmorelandsymphony.org.
