PORTLAND YOUTH PHILHARMONIC WILL PERFORM THEIR 61ST ANNUAL CONCERT-AT-CHRISTMAS: UP IN THE AIR ON DECEMBER 26
Posted on December 12, 2022
PORTLAND, OR – Portland Youth Philharmonic (PYP), the country’s longest running youth orchestra, is excited to bring all their ensembles together again for the 61st annual Concert-at-Christmas on Monday, December 26 at 7:30 PM. The Portland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, Conservatory Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, String Ensemble, and an Alumni Orchestra invite you to join them at Portland’s Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall as they perform a world premiere by local composer Kenji Bunch, classic masterworks, and tunes from our favorite movies! Ensembles are conducted and coached by Musical Director David Hattner, Lawrence Johnson, Giancarlo Castro D’Addona, Inés Voglar Belgique, and Gordon Rencher. Can’t join in person? No problem! PYP continues to offer a professional livestream experience.
“I look forward to continuing PYP’s long-lasting tradition of making beautiful music for the Portland community each holiday season,” said PYP Co-Concertmaster Timothy Lee. “It is an honor to be a part of such a memorable and historic concert, and I’m sure you will enjoy this year’s theme: Up in the Air. The audience will be able to appreciate a world premiere of she flies with her own wings by Kenji Bunch, a remarkably talented Portland-based composer. Featuring delicate counterpoints and soaring melodies, this piece will remind you of the joys of life as it takes you high into the sky. Just like every other year, PYP’s 61st annual Concert-at-Christmas will showcase the commitment and dedication that every musician upholds, and I hope to see you there to enjoy our performance!”
Commissioned by PYP in 2019, she flies with her own wings is a much-anticipated premiere that PYP is sure will continue to inspire young and young-at-heart audiences, as it has done since its first performance in 1925.
“I’ve always enjoyed the state motto of Oregon, Alis volat propriis (she flies with her own wings),” reflected composer Kenji Bunch. “I interpret the phrase as a hopeful affirmation of self-reliance and the promise and potential of youthful curiosity. As such, it brings to mind the many fearless capers of my own children as well as those we grown-ups survived in our earlier days. I wanted this short, propulsive fanfare to embody this kind of energy, and filled it with gestures that ascend and soar, and hopefully uplift listeners of any age.”
Alongside Bunch’s piece, patrons of all ages will enjoy “Raiders March” from Raiders of the Lost Ark by John Williams, Music from Encanto by Lin-Manuel Miranda, John Philip Sousa’s The Free Lance March, Gustav Holst’s “Mars” from The Planets, and the overture to La gazza ladra by Gioachino Rossini.
This holiday season, celebrate Portland’s most dedicated young musicians as they perform these outstanding pieces; be a part of PYP’s rich history and be uplifted during this post-Christmas tradition, which started in 1961.
In-person tickets start at $15 for students and seniors, $20 for adults, and livestream passes are $13. To learn more about the concert, musical artists, and to purchase tickets, visit portlandyouthphil.org/concerts; in-person tickets may also be purchased at the venue door.