CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH NEW JERSEY FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA!

On Saturday, December 10th at 7pm at the Presbyterian Church in Westfield, New Jersey Festival Orchestra, under the baton of David Wroe, kicks off the holiday season with a bang and plenty of bling with Home for the Holidays, a family festival of traditional and contemporary songs and music, sing-alongs and more guaranteed to make the season merry.
This year’s concert features special guests The Three Holiday Tenors who are set to dazzle and captivate with a beautiful selection of renowned tenor classical fare to welcome in the holidays. Their performances of a host of traditional carols and wintertime curiosities are also sure to delight.“We are thrilled to welcome these gifted tenors to help us celebrate the Holiday season,” said Maestro David Wroe. “We believe they will bring something for everyone. Our program is a vessel for children, parents, grandparents and friends — indeed the entire community — to come together through music at this unique time of the year.”
American tenor Cody Austin has been lauded as one the most promising singing actors of his age. A 2009 graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, his voice has been described as “warm and rich … produced with an evenness that’s rare.” Mr Austin has already undertaken a variety of leading roles in opera houses throughout the United States including the Duke in Verdi’s Rigoletto for Opera Santa Barbara, Alfredo in Verdi’s La Traviata for Pittsburg opera, Virginia Opera and Utah Opera, Lensky in Eugene Onegin for Des Moines Metro Opera and Don Jose in Carmen for Shreveport Opera. He was recently featured as tenor soloist with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops in a program entitled ‘The Great American Tenor’
Rising tenor Limmie Pulliam has been praised for his captivating stage presence and his “stentorian yet beautiful” voice. A former artistin- residence with Cleveland Opera, Opera Delaware and Opera Memphis, his recent engagements include multiple appearances Delta Symphony Orchestra, a much acclaimed performance with Vashon Opera as Canio in I Pagliacci and a lauded debut at the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice as the title character in Verdi’s masterpiece Otello. He also recently presented a series of concerts featuring Negro Spirituals with The Concord Chorale.
Kevin Ray is praised by Opera News for his “commendable style” and abilities with “subtle coloristic nuance.” An alumnus of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, the tenor recently starred in the company’s new commission of Iain Bell’s one-man opera, A Christmas Carol. Other recent engagements include the title role of Peter Grimes with Chautauqua Opera, Roderigo in Otello, Beadle Bamford in Sweeney Todd, and Don José in Carmen with Wolf Trap Opera. Last season, he made his Los Angeles Philharmonic debut singing Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy under the baton of Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla.
This seasonal stroll of timeless classics and sentimental favorites, sure to bring joy, smiles, and distinctive holiday memories to one and all, has been made possible in part by a Union County Heart (History, Education and Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant and generous support from The Westfield Foundation.
Tickets prices range from $28 to $76 for adults and there is a special discount price of only $15 for students K-12.
Tickets are also available for NJ Festival Orchestra’s New Year’s Eve musical celebration. This year’s performance, On The Town, promises a superb revue of American musical theater classics from stage and screen and features renowned guest vocalists direct from the Broadway stage and beyond. Special discounts are available for children under 18, making this event (which starts at 7pm and ends at 9pm) a perfect way for the entire family to join together to welcome in the new year. Patrons are advised to purchase tickets well in advance as this concert has been a sell out for the past five years.
Tickets for both concerts are available on line at www.njfestivalorchestra.org. Tickets may also be purchased by calling (908) 232-9400 or visiting the office at 224 E. Broad Street, Westfield. Gift certificates are also available.