Halloween decorations can be seen along the streets of Plymouth and costumes are for sale. Parties are being planned yet all the while there is a group of dedicated musicians who are thinking ahead to the Christmas holiday season. Members of the Marshall County Church Orchestra under the direction of Don Harness are putting the final touches on the music for their annual Concert & Dessert holiday presentation. The concert and dessert is held each year at Christos’ Banquet Center. The MCCO will again partner with Lifeplex Dance Academy and the combined groups will present their favorite songs in a program titled “Holiday Showcase”.
The evening of entertainment will showcase the orchestra as a whole as well as individual solos and ensembles. Many in the orchestra are also talented vocalists. Vocals will be included during the program as well as a flute choir, a clarinet quintet, cornet solo, trumpet/clarinet duet, violin trio, and hammered dulcimer music. The orchestra and ensembles have chosen to play classical and popular favorites including “Barber Of Seville”, “The Wild Westerns”, “Simple Gifts”, “Celebration”, “As The Deer”, “Pachabel’s Cannon in D” and several more.
Dancers of the Lifeplex Dance Academy will float around the dance floor to music provided by the MCCO throughout the program. The dances have been choreographed Marcia Heintzberger from the LDA. Music chosen for the dances include “Blue Tango”, “Two O’Clock Jump”, “Dancing In The Dark”, “winter” and “Moon river”. Much of Heintzberger’s choreography also includes acting as the dancers convey story of the song while the orchestra performs. The Lifeplex dancers for the evening of entertainment range in age from 6 years old through adult.
“We will close the concert with a selection of popular holiday tunes,” explained orchestra leader Don Harness. “With the exception of “O, Come All ye Faithful”, these are not your traditional Christmas carols. The audience will recognize these fun, up-beat, tunes that have become synonymous with the Christmas season.”
“We hope that the audience will be ready to enjoy the holidays after they hear our renditions of “The Holly and The Ivy”, “Sleigh Ride” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, and “Irving Berlin’s Christmas”, exclaimed Harness! “We like to think of our annual Concert & Dessert as our holiday gift to the community.”
Tickets may be purchased by calling Don Harness at 574-936-7357 or Cindy Flagg at 574-952- 3661. You may also purchase tickets from any orchestra member or from Lifeplex Dance Academy. Tickets are $12.00. Patrons may choose which night they would like to attend; Thursday, November 13 or Friday, November 14 or they may purchase a ticket for each night. While there is no charge for children nine and under they still need a “ticket” to help keep track of seating. The doors open at 6:00 p.m. with the festivities beginning at 7:00 p.m. Christos’ Banquet Center is located at 830 Lincolnway East in Plymouth.
Photo Caption: Judy Harness and Deb Burman of the Marshall County Church Orchestra distribute Concert & Dessert tickets at MCCO rehearsal Thursday evening.
