RINGING IN THE HOLIDAYS
ASO celebrates the season with dancing, singing
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

The Amherst Symphony Orchestra will continue its 2007-08 season on Sunday, Dec. 2 with "Holiday Songs and Dances."

The concert will begin at 7 p.m. at Amherst Middle School, 55 Kings Highway, Snyder.

Tradition will be a key factor in the concert, according to ASO general manager Joan Fishburn.

"We'll be inviting the children up on stage before intermission to play the bells," she said. "And the end of the concert will be a sing-along of Christmas songs and carols."

After the performance, the audience is invited to join the orchestra for a cookie reception in the cafeteria of the middle school, which is also an ASO tradition.

The program will begin with the Overture to Leonard Bernstein's "West Side Story."

"We picked this for two reasons," Fishburn said. "First, it's the musical's 50th anniversary, and this particular arrangement incorporates all the dances from the show."

The orchestra will then continue with Johann Strauss' famous waltz, "The Blue Danube."

The Iacono Ballroom Dancers will join the orchestra with tango and swing dances featuring music by Duke Ellington.

Paula Iacono

"We will be doing the Argentine tango and swing dances," said Paula Iacono, owner of the Iacono Ballroom Center. "It's wonderful as an artist to perform with other artists."

Iacono noted that the collaboration with the ASO is another way she can help bring ballroom dancing to the public.

"It's a different venue for us," she said. "I'm very excited to work with Steve (Thomas, ASO director) and the orchestra."

For the children, the orchestra will continue the holiday theme by performing music from the animated movie, "The Polar Express."

After intermission, Sergi Prokofiev's "Overture on Hebrew Themes" will be played.

"It's not just Jewish themes," said Fishburn of the piece. "You can almost see movement in the music."

In addition to the Iacono Ballroom Dancers, the orchestra will continue its yearlong theme of "Amazing Area Artists" with Amherst Central High School graduate Chris Wietig singing three selections.

Chris Wietig

Wietig is replacing Amherst dentist Brian Zunner, who, due to illness, is unable to perform.

"As a kid, my parents used to take me to the Amherst Symphony concerts," Wietig said. "So it's definitely a dream come true."

Wietig, a tenor, has a bachelor's degree in vocal performance from Fredonia State College and is currently employed by Science Kits in Tonawanda.

He is a former student of Thomas and will be singing "Every Valley Should Be Exalted," from George Handel's "Messiah," "O Holy Night," and "On the Street Where You Live," from "My Fair Lady," by Alan Lerner and Frederick Loewe.

"I have enormous respect for Steve, and I'm very happy to be in the area. In fact, I think I'm one of the few from my graduating class still here, but it's great to be making a difference in the community."

"We're very sorry about Brian," Fishburn said. "But we are excited to have Chris perform."

In another tradition for the ASO, the preconcert event will once again be held at 6:15 p.m.

The Stringed Edition Guitar Ensemble, comprising six electric guitarists, a bassist and a drummer, will feature music by Pete Hankinson, who also arranged "Silver Bells" and "Winter Wonderland" for the orchestra to play during the sing-along at the end of the performance.

Stringed Edition covers music from several genres, including blues, light classical and experimental.

There is no charge for the performance, but donations are accepted.

Shuttle service will once again be available from Amherst High School's Berryman Drive entrance beginning at 5:45 p.m.

For more information, call 633-4606 or visit the Web site at www. amherst. ny. us/ News/ Symphony. asp.

e-mail: etaufa@beenews.com