Warm up with a holiday performance

By Kate Hayden | khayden@charlescitypress.com

For visitors attending the Charles City Community Chamber Orchestra on Sunday afternoon, members of the group are planning a whole new winter experience.

The Chamber Orchestra and the Dance Arts Center will collaborate on a holiday experience for audience members this year.

“We’ll be playing some classics like the Nutcracker ballet, pieces like ‘Sleigh Ride’ and a Christmas concerto,” Chamber Orchestra Board President Wendy Johnson said. “Our finale is kind of a conglomeration of several different holiday pieces.”

The concert will be held Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. in the 500 North Grand Auditorium. It is free to the public.

The board begins planning it’s next season every March, and this last year members wanted to collaborate with another community arts group for the holiday season.

“Being a holiday-themed concert…we thought the Nutcracker was appropriate,” Johnson said. “When you think of the Nutcracker, you think ballet, so we approached the dance center to see if they would be interested.”

Tiffany Perry, the Dance Arts Director, “jumped on board”, Johnson said.

“She’s been a great person to work with,” she added.

Dancers from elementary ages to high school will join the orchestra onstage at 500 North Grand, performing in front of the musicians in groups.

Out in the lobby, local bakers Nikole Marth (from Four Monsters Bakery), Jasmine Franke and Samantha Tynan will be selling their goods and taking holiday orders during intermission and after the performance. Hot apple cider and lemonade will also be available.

The Chamber Orchestra is made up of 15 string instrumentalists and is directed by John Childs of Cedar Falls. The orchestra does two performances a year in the winter and spring, and always invites string instrumentalists to consider joining by contacting Johnson at 641-228-1583, or emailing ccchamberorchestra@gmail.com.

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