Pittsburgh Symphony returns to New Castle

Staff report

NEW CASTLE, PA.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will celebrate the holidays when it comes to Scottish Rite Cathedral, 110 E. Lincoln Ave., on Dec. 18.

The Holiday Pops concert will be the season’s first in the PSO’s annual series at Scottish Rite. Daniel Meyer, former resident conductor of the PSO, will return to lead the orchestra and guest artists in holiday music, seasonal orchestral pieces and a Christmas carol sing-along.

This year, a new face will take the stage for the festive show. Chris Jamison, a Pittsburgh native and singer-songwriter who is best known for finishing third on NBC’s “The Voice,” will join the orchestra to perform “Georgia on My Mind,” “This Christmas” and an original song.

Returning will be Beaver Falls native Vanessa Campagna, a young singer who first rose to prominence at age 10 on CBS’ “Star Search” and now performs and records in Nashville, Tenn. She appeared in Holiday Pops during the 2013-14 Scottish Rite Cathedral Series season.

Other guests will include returning favorite Christopher Sanders and a jazz trio of Pittsburgh Symphony musicians Harold Smoliar, piano; Jeffrey Grubbs, bass; and Andrew Reamer, percussion.

Tickets to the concert, which will start at 8 p.m., range from $16 to $59. This season, all concerts in this series will be presented without intermission, so it will end at about 9:30 p.m. Those who buy one adult ticket can get one child ticket for free (phone orders only). Call 412-392-4900, or go to pittsburghsymphony.org.

The Scottish Rite Cathedral will offer a pre-concert buffet dinner before each Pittsburgh Symphony concert this season from 6 to 7 p.m. The cost is $22 per person, and reservations are required. Call 724-654-6683 (option 3 then option 2) or email info@cathedralnewcastle.com for reservations or information.