City band, orchestra combine in holiday concert

Published 1:40 pm Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Sequim Gazette staff

The Sequim City Band presents a holiday concert in conjunction with the Sequim Community Orchestra at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, in the Sequim High School Auditorium. Under the direction of Phil Morgan-Ellis, the Community Orchestra will perform “The Christmas Song” by Mel Torme and Robert Wells, “Tidings of Comfort and Joy,” “Sleigh Ride Mozart” edited by Douglas Stroud and “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin, arranged by Bob Cerulli.

Tyler Benedict will lead the City Band in an array of well-known and well-loved seasonal favorites. Peter Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” will include the famous set of dances from Act 2, including the Waltz of the Flowers, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Russian Trepak Dance among others.

The “Hallelujah Chorus” from G.F. Handel’s oratorio “The Messiah” is an audience pleaser. A medley of singable carols is packed into “Merry Christmas Everyone.” Old standards such as “Winter Wonderland” and “Happy Holiday/White Christmas” also will be part of the concert.

As usual, the Sequim City Band concert is free of charge but this combined concert will benefit the Sequim Food Bank. Voluntary donations will be accepted (either non-perishable foods or cash) and treats will be for sale at the concert. The Sequim Community Orchestra and the Sequim City Band would like to gift the community with their musical talents while providing for the less fortunate.