Philharmonic to play Holiday Pops
The Pittsburgh Philharmonic will present its annual Holiday Pops concert and conduct its Toys for Tots drive at 7 p.m. Saturday at Butler County Community College's Succop Theater.
Selections will feature Tchaikovsky's “Nutcracker Suite,” Anderson's “Sleigh Ride,” and Bottesini's “Elegy” featuring the principal bassist Naomi Sarchet.
Now in its 42nd season, the Pittsburgh Philharmonic is made up of approximately 70 musicians from throughout the tri-state area, ranging in age from 15 to 80.
Members of the orchestra include business executives, retirees, students, teachers, and other professionals, some who have been performing with the Philharmonic for more than 20 years.
Music director and conductor is Edward Leonard.
Philharmonic musicians from the Butler area include Jennifer Peet of Cranberry Township and Kim Hummel, formerly of Cranberry, now living in Rochester, Beaver County.
Peet is the principal flute player of the orchestra, and she also plays the piccolo.
In her fourth year with the orchestra, she said she joined shortly after moving to the area. Her degree is in music education with an emphasis on flute from Westminster College.
“My favorite part of the holiday concert is that most of the pieces are more lighthearted,” Peet said. “I'm very excited this year that we are playing selections from 'The Nutcracker.'”
Hummel, who plays the French horn, has been with the Philharmonic for five years.
She has a degree in architecture from Penn State University, but has been taking private music lessons since she was in grade school.
She said she likes “the opportunity to perform classic repertoire that captures the many emotions of the season: the magic of Christmas, the wonder, the hope and joy.”
“It's a time when orchestra and audience fill the theater with song,” Hummel said. “Truly an amazing experience.”
Those attending the concert who take one unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots drive will receive a ticket to an upcoming spring concert.
Tickets for the Saturday concert are $15, available online at https://itkt.choicecrm.net/templates/BCCC or by calling 724-284-8505.
Tickets also will be available at the door. Discounts are available for students, senior citizens and groups.
