LAMS ‘Sounds of the Season’ calls in the holiday spirit

 

[December 16, 2019] 

On Saturday and Sunday, December 14 and 15, the Lincoln Area Music Society performed their annual winter concert with the theme “Sounds of the Season.”

Formed in 1986 to “give musicians all ages a chance to share their talents with the community, the orchestra, chorale and summer band” have been providing entertainment for many years. Made up of volunteers from teenagers to octogenarians, the performers spend nine weeks of hard work preparing for this concert.



Master of Ceremonies Keith Snyder introduced and gave some background on each of the songs, many of which were arrangements with medleys of several holiday classics.

Led by Julie Kasa, the 26-member orchestra played such Christmas standards as “We Three Kings,” “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” and “Go Tell it on the Mountain.” Other songs included “A Gleeful Christmas,” and “A Canadian Brass Christmas,” which combined various Christmas songs. The orchestra closed out their portion of the concert with “I Saw Three Ships.”



Directed by Tim Searby and accompanied by Kay Dobson and Sarah Strotheide, the 51-member chorale1, sang rousing renditions of the seasonal “Mistletoe and Holly” and “Tuimbe (Let There Be Music),” an African Celebration of Music.” “Various Themes on Fa-La-La,” provided a rollicking ride with a medley that included the music of “William Tell Overture,” “Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony,” “Blue Danube,” and “Overture of 1812.”

A “Christmas Carol Jamboree (A Holiday Hoedown)” provided a southern twist and fresh take on the songs “Jingle Bells,” “Jolly Old St. Nicholas,” “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”



Religious holiday classics included “Angels from the Realms of Glory,” and “O Night Divine” and “Come to Me” with soloist Austin Garriot.

The evening’s performances ended with the combined chorale and orchestra offering the awe inspiring “Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah,” LAMS traditional final number.



The LAMS orchestra and chorale appreciates the support and financial sponsorship from many in the community, which LAMS president Donny Parker says enables the society to offer music scholarships and pay their conductors.

[Angela Reiners]