YSO to salute military at holiday show

Staff report

Youngstown

At its concert Saturday, the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra will pay tribute to military personnel serving abroad this holiday season.

The YSO will reveal the winners of Letters Home, a letter-writing campaign that began Sept. 7, sponsored by the YSO and radio station Big 106.1-FM. The radio station invited listeners to submit their military family letters via the station’s website, wbbgfm.com. Letters were to tell why their military family deserved special recognition at the Dec. 11 YSO concert.

Big 106.1 morning-show host Jeff Kelly will read the three winning entries and introduce the military families, who will attend the concert as guests of the orchestra. Before the concert, the honorees will be treated to dinner at Overture, courtesy of owners Jeffrey and Nora Chrystal. Transportation to and from the concert will be provided by FAB Limousines.

Saturday’s concert, titled “Sounds of the Season,” will feature Kip Wilborn. The American tenor’s career has flourished in both North America and Europe. His favorite roles include Hoffmann in “Les Contes d’Hoffman,” Rodolfo in “La Boheme,” Cavaradossi in “Tosca” and Pinkerton in “Madama Butterfly.”

Wilborn will sing seasonal favorites from “The Messiah” and “O Holy Night” as well as operatic arias, at Saturday’s concert.

Joining Wilborn will be Darren Thomas and the Music and Performing Arts Chorale in “Joy to the World,” “We Sing Glory” and “Away in the Manger” and The Youngstown Connection’s perennial Christmas on Broadway favorites, “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” “Pine Cones and Holly Berries,” “My Favorite Things,” “We Need a Little Christmas,” and “God Bless Us Everyone.”

Easy Street Productions will also pay a visit, with Todd Hancock and Maureen Collins, and the Easy Street Little Rascals and dancers. The theater troupe will join the YSO in “Frosty the Snowman,” “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and a few surprises, including Hancock’s “Hats Half Off.”

IF YOU GO

What: Youngstown Symphony Orchestra in “Sounds of the Season”

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Where: Powers Auditorium, 260 W. Federal St, Youngstown

Tickets: 330-744-0264 or youngstownsymphony- .com