ONE OF the highlights of the Christmas entertainment season - the annual Manx Youth Orchestra Christmas Festival Concert, sponsored this year by the Bank of Ireland - is being staged at the Villa Marina on December 11th.
The sparkling occasion will feature the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Youth Orchestras, the Swing Band and the Youth Guitar Ensemble. The programme includes music by Stravinsky, Sibelius, Gershwin and the world premiere of Snowfall by Manx composer Tim Price, a former member of the orchestra.
The Manx Youth Wind Orchestra will be performing in its usual, rousing style with music from the Blues Brothers and an arrangement of The Carnival of Venice with Illiam Quane on solo trumpet.
The ever-popular Manx Youth Swing Band’s programme will include classics such as Tuxedo Junction and A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.
The concert will again be compered by Manx Radio’s Alex Brindley – another former member of the Manx Youth Orchestra – and will be held in the presence of His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, Vice Admiral Sir Paul Haddacks, and Lady Haddacks.
Maggie Richardson, Head of Music Service, said: “The orchestra continues to grow and build upon its successes. Members of the Senior Orchestra are particularly excited about next year’s tour to Holland and we’re looking forward to hosting the Cheshire Youth Orchestra when it visits the Island in April. The concert will be the culmination of this term’s work, which has taken place on Saturday mornings since September.”
Tickets are £9.50, £8.50 and £7.50 and are available from the Villa Marina and Gaiety Theatre ticket hotline on 01624 600555 and the Manx Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal.
The annual concert, which is sponsored by the Bank of Ireland, has raised thousands of pounds for local charities over the years.
This year the beneficiaries will be The Children’s Centre and the Friends of the Manx Youth Orchestra.
The Friends are a team of parents, past and present, of MYO members, plus ex members and other supporters who work throughout the year to raise funds.
