Chandler Symphony Orchestra “Sold Out” 2021 Holiday Concert At Risen Savior Worship & Performing Arts Center
Bryan Newman, for the SanTan Sun News
Joyous sounds of the holidays filled the air in Southeast Chandler on Sunday, December 5th as the Chandler Symphony Orchestra (CSO) performed its Sold Out 2021 Holiday Concert in Risen Savior Church’s new 700-plus seat combination Worship & Performing Arts Center. Performing with the CSO was the 50-voice Risen Savior Concert Choir. Although the vast majority of CSO concerts are free to the public, tickets to the Holiday Concert were $15 for reserved seats and $10 General Admission, with the proceeds being divided equally between the CSO and the Sun Lakes Neighbors Who Care, a Chandler service provider to the elderly.
The symphony orchestra was conducted by Dr. Vanja Gjumar Nikolovski, CSO Music Director who brilliantly led every section of his orchestra and the choir to deliver solid presentations of each composers’ written scores … from Leroy Anderson and Irving Berlin to Wolfgang Mozart and Pytor Tchaikovsky.
If you have never witnessed Dr. Nikolovski conducting a symphonic orchestra, you are in for a very special musical treat. For those who appreciate superior conducting, he skillfully employs a very high-energy conducting style, which he combines with his in-depth knowledge of each section’s musical scores to effectively communicate with, motivate, and lead the musicians to deliver their optimal musical contribution at the appropriate time, pace, tone, and intensity required to achieve his desired results.
Also directing was Guest Conductor, Teresa Murphy, Director of the Risen Savior Choir, who expertly led the orchestra and the choir in their symphonious offering of Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus. Ms. Murphy is a Doctoral Student in the ASU College of Music who is pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting.
The other Symphonic selections in the program included The Prelude from Hansel and Gretel (Humperdinck); German Dance No.3, (Mozart); March of the Toys from Babes in Toyland (Herbert); Nutcracker Selections - March, Chinese Dance, Trepak (Tchaikovsky); Hanukkah Greetings, arranged by Martin Haub, and the Hallelujah Chorus, from Handel’s Messiah performed jointly by the orchestra and choir.
On the lighter side, the orchestra and choir entertained the audience with the heart-warming performances of Christmas classics, White Christmas and O Holy Night. In keeping with the spirit of the season, Maestro Nikolovski also directed the orchestra, chorus, and the audience in an enthusiastic sing-along of abbreviated arrangements of Christmas songs and carols that included a selection of holiday favorites.
The concert ended with the crack of a whip and the horse’s neigh from the percussionists as the orchestra and chorus closed the evening’s performance with Leroy Anderson’s classic, Sleigh Ride. The musicians were immediately rewarded with enthusiastic applause and shouts of approval from the audience.
If you enjoy well-performed music, we encourage you to view a list of upcoming concerts at www. chandlersymphony.com and attend the concert(s) of your choice. Many who have done so have become enthusiastic fans and/or patrons of the Chandler Symphony Orchestra.