T H E G AZ ET T E
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Wednesday, December 18, 2013 z
One voice
Fairfax high school singers join Washington Chorus for holiday performances n
BY
CARA HEDGEPETH STAFF WRITER
The Washington Chorus continues its annual holiday tradition this year with five performances of “A Candlelight Christmas” at The Kennedy Center and the Music Center at Strathmore. The two Strathmore shows will take place tomorrow and Monday night. Founded in 1961 as the Oratio Society of Washington, The Washington Chorus has a roster of 200 singers and averages between eight and 10 projects a year. The chorus often appears at the invitation of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra as well as the National Symphony Orchestra and is a part of a subscription series at The Kennedy Center. “[We do] projects with contemporary music and new music. We do a lot of projects with living composers,” said Julian Wachner, music director for The Washington Chorus. “We also have a really active educational program as well; both our Sideby-Side program ... and also our Junior Washington Chorus, which is some talented high school students who shadow the activities of the adults.” Now in its 22nd year, the Side-by-Side program is specific to the chorus’ “A Candlelight Christmas” performance. At the beginning of every summer, The Washington Chorus selects one or two distinguished high school choruses with which to partner. Students have the opportunity to rehearse and perform alongside some of the region’s most talented singers. This year the chorus selected the Robinson Singers from the James R. Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax, Va.
IN THE ARTS
Continued from Page B-7 2:45-3:30 p.m. lesson, 3:30-6 p.m., dance, $10, www.waltztimedances.org.
MUSIC & DANCE Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, Gotta Swing Dance Night
with The Cutaways, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18; Joyce Lyons, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19; Holiday Tango concert with
A CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS
n When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Monday at The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda; 1 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday at The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St NW, Washington, D.C. n Tickets: $15-$70 n For information: 202-342-6221, thewashingtonchorus.org
“One of my goals for the kids ... after they move on from high school is that they continue to have choral music be a part of their lives,” said Robinson music director Mike Horanski. “I think that this gives them a really direct experience of how they can continue to be a part of singing choral music at a high level in their lives.” Horanski and his chorus were notified of their selection at the end of last school year. According to Wachner, choruses are chosen based on submitted materials and The Washington Chorus’ own research. “We have so many music educators singing in The Washington Chorus now that we’re really pretty connected to what’s going on in the community and in the high schools,” Wachner said. Once Horanski and his chorus of 36 students were selected, they began rehearsing the music at the beginning of this school year. Just a few weeks ago, the chorus began rehearsals with The Washington Chorus. “The students were pre-assigned a buddy, one of the adult singers in the choir,” Horanski said. “The first rehearsal we rehearsed all of the music that the students are singing with The Washington Chorus which is essentially two-thirds of the program.” Roberto Pomili Orchestra, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 20, Daryl Jr. Cline with Julia Nixon and the Recliners, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 21; Ori Naftaly Band, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22; Wynonna & The Big Noise: A Simpler Christmas, 8 p.m. Dec. 23; Jamison & Double O Soul, 8 p.m. Dec. 27; Freddy Cole’s Christmas Show, 8 p.m. Dec. 28; Christmas Jazz Brunch w/Freddy Cole, 11 a.m. Dec. 29; The Nighthawks: Back to Bethesda/Psychedelly, 8 p.m. Dec. 29, call for prices, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. 240-330-4500, www.bethesdab-
THE WASHINGTON CHORUS
Musical director Julian Wachner conducts the Washington Chorus in the 2012 Candlelight Christmas Show.
ROBINSON SINGERS
The Robinson Singers were chosen as a part of The Washington Chorus’ “Side-by-Side” program to rehearse alongside the chorus and then perform with them at their “A Candlelight Christmas” shows. For the “A Candlelight Christmas” performance, the Robinson Singers will perform a 12-15 minute showcase on their own before joining The Washington Chorus for the rest of the show. Music from the repertoire includes “Here We Come
A-Caroling,” “The Orient Christmas Skies,” and an arrangement of “Deck the Halls.” The evening always ends the same way, with a rendition of “Silent Night” and “Hallelujah Chorus.” “The end of the program is kind of locked into place now,”
luesjazz.com.
Park, 301-960-3655, www.imtfolk. org.
BlackRock Center for the Arts,
Holiday Swing with Daryl Davis and Gotta Swing, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19; Lloyd Dobler Effect, 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Dec. 21, call for tickets, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown. 301-528-2260, www. blackrockcenter.org.
Institute of Musical Traditions — Takoma Park, Ensemble Galilei,
7:30 p.m. Dec. 20, Takoma Park Community Center, call for prices, times, Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma
Institute of Musical Traditions — Rockville, TBA, Saint Mark
Presbyterian Church, 10701 Old Georgetown Road, Rockville, call for prices, www.imtfolk.org. Strathmore, Afternoon/Specialty Teas, 1 p.m. Dec. 18, 28; Coral Cantigas, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18; The Washington Chorus: A Candlelight Christmas, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19, 23; AIR: Integriti Reeves - Christmas Jazz Songs, 11 a.m. Dec. 20; Ricky Skaggs, 8 p.m. Dec. 20; The Irish Tenors: The Premiere Irish Holiday Celebration Tour, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Dec. 21; National Philharmonic: Washington Symphonic Brass, 4 p.m. Dec. 22; Bohemian Caverns Jazz, 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 22; Salute to Vienna, 3 p.m. Dec. 29, call for venue, Locations: Mansion, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda; Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, 301-5815100, www.strathmore.org.
Wachner said. “It’s a winning combination and it’s what the audience has come to expect.” Beyond the musical lessons students can learn through the Side-by-Side program, the young singers also have the opportunity to get a behind-the-
ON STAGE Adventure Theatre, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” to Dec. 30, call for prices, times, Adventure Theatre MTC, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, 301-634-2270, www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org. Do or Die Mysteries, TBA, 6:30 p.m. buffet, 7:30 p.m. show, $47.50 buffet and show, Flanagan’s Harp and Fiddle, 4844 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, 443-422-3810, www. doordiemystery.com Imagination Stage, “Lyle the Crocodile,” to Jan. 10, call for prices, times, Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, www. imaginationstage.org Olney Theatre Center, “The King and I,” to Dec. 29; Olney Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 13-24; “A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas,” to Dec. 29, call for prices, times, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, 301-924-3400, www.olneytheatre. org.
scenes look at the making of a professional production. “I think they get to see what it takes to put together a professional show at The Kennedy Center,” Wachner said. “And also, throughout their own presentation, it gives them a real focus of aiming for excellence to perform in a public place like that. It’s different than just performing for their family and friends at their school.” Horanski said his students have been enthusiastic about the opportunity since the moment they found out about their selection. “They’ve been very excited throughout the whole experience,” Horanski said. “It was great to see their reaction and hear their comments about how excited they were and how exciting it is to sing on a stage like The Kennedy Center. It’s a really great experience for them and I’m thankful for the invitation.” chedgepeth@gazette.net The Puppet Co., “The Nutcracker,” to Dec. 29; Tiny Tots @ 10, select Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, call for shows and show times, Puppet Co. Playhouse, Glen Echo Park’s North Arcade Building, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., $5, 301-634-5380, www.thepuppetco.org. Round House Theatre, Bethesda, “The Lyons,” to Dec. 22, 4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda. 240-644-1100, www. roundhousetheatre.org. Round House Theatre, Silver Spring, “Meena’s Dream,” Jan. 8-14, call for show times, 8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, $15 for general admission, $10 for subscribers, patrons 30 and younger and seniors, 244-6441100, www.roundhousetheatre. org. Silver Spring Stage, “A Christmas Carol,” to Dec. 22, Woodmoor Shopping Center, 10145 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, see website for show times, www.ssstage.org. The Writer’s Center, TBA, 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, 301-6548664, www.writer.org.
VISUAL ART Adah Rose Gallery, John James Anderson and Mei Mei Chang, to Dec. 28, 3766 Howard Ave., Kensington, 301-922-0162, www. adahrosegallery.com
The Dennis and Phillip Ratner Museum, TBA, hours are 10 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. Sundays, noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10001 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. 301-897-1518. Gallery B, December Exhibition: Eric Garner, to Dec. 28, gallery hours are noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Suite E. www. bethesda.org. Glenview Mansion, Rockville Art League Juried Members’ Show Varied Media, to Dec. 30, Rockville Civic Center Park, 503 Edmonston Drive, Rockville. www.rockvillemd. gov. Marin-Price Galleries, William Woodward, to Dec. 24, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, 7022 Wisconsin Ave., 301-718-0622. VisArts, Michael Sellmeyer: Paintings, Drawings, Prints, That Mostly Go Together, to Jan. 12, Common Ground Gallery; Lauren Boilini: Rabid Habits, to Jan. 12, Gibbs Street Gallery,155 Gibbs St., Rockville, 301-315-8200, www. visartsatrockville.org.
1890875
Mediterranean Grill Classic Greek Food including Chicken Souvlaki, Lamb Shank, Kabobs, Greek Gyro Salad, Stuffed Flounder & more. Great selection of beer & wine available Closed Monday 8371 Snouffer School Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20879
301-519-1093
1912899
We deliver. Call or stop by today. Carryout, dine in & catering
LUNCH SPECIAL 11-3 • TUES-FRI $5.00 Gyro Sandwich Dine in or Carryout. T-F. Expires 12/31/13
TUES & WED 1/2 PRICE SELECT BOTTLES OF WINE
With purchase of two entrees Dine in only. Not valid with other specials. Expires 12/31/13
Scott Fitzgerald Theater
603 Edmonston Dr. Rockville, MD 20851
240-314-8690
www.rockvillemd.gov/theatre Rockville Concert Band Presents
The Greatest Generation’s Holiday Enjoy holiday music from the World War II era in this afternoon concert. Sunday, Dec. 22; 3 p.m. No tickets required, Suggested donation: $5
Washington Printmakers Gallery, “Land Lines,” Clare Winslow,
Rockville Chorus Holiday Concert
Rockville’s Adult Chorus celebrates the season Sunday, Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. No tickets, join us afterwards for punch & cookies!
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to Dec. 29, meet the artist from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 14, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, second floor, 8230 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, www.washingtonprintmakers. com.