Danville Symphony Pops This Holiday Season

by Mia Brantley Brooks

Holiday traditions, we all have them. Some folks bake cookies, some decorate a tree; some watch certain films just once a year. I have a few traditions of my own, for instance I make a fruit salad that if missing from the table one year, might incite an entire family to mutiny. One tradition that makes Danville a great place this time of year is the Holiday Pops Concert presented by the Danville Symphony Orchestra. This year, they could proudly boast a more than 20 years of providing culture and entertainment to our community. It’s a Danville fixture now, and I’m sure mutiny would cross more than one mind if they decided to cancel it even once.

I had the privilege of attending last night’s concert and speaking to their president, David Bason, Conductor Peter Perrot, and several musicians before the show. What I learned from these conversations was inspiring. For instance, while we are listening to the harmonious blending of orchestral instruments, we might not realize that the person breathing into a trumpet might be there despite lung problems from smoke inhalation only a few nights before (darn that leaf burning!), or that a bassoonist may have just had dental surgery and is using a reed instrument that just happens to be pressing on newly minted teeth! How many of us know about the experience that these musicians have or how long they have been sharing their talent with us? Some have been playing for decades and are talented at multiple instruments, while some are still only teenagers, just beginning a musical journey through life. The dedication of both young and old to the symphony is as impressive as the size of the contrabass and as deep as a tympani drum.

The DSO has grown over the years, from a small operation including about 15 local musicians to an organization that attracts over 60 to perform several times a year. A real orchestra, with a full complement of instruments fills George Washington High School’s backstage area. Shiny trombones, oboes, flutes, violins, cellos, a piano, all things needed to perform complex arrangements were on hand, but even more importantly, they had the unusual as well. Over in a corner, hard to see but undeniably necessary for tonight’s performance were some different instrumental offerings, an electric guitar, bells and chimes, a Glockenspiel and a…hammer? Yes, a hammer, and its accompaniment, an anvil, were the stars of selections from Disney’s Frozen. The children in the audience, and there were many, squealed with delight and mouthed the lyrics as the percussion section wielded these tools as musical instruments, punctuating the popularity of the tunes.

Sandwiched between a sampling of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet selections, a rousing trumpet trio, a medley of Hanukkah favorites, and an ending audience participation event of carols, was a stirring chorus of elementary students from Twin Springs Elementary School led by Jeffrey Chapman. Their conductor led them through music from the Home Alone films culminating with an A cappella rendition of Silent Night.  Making the night even more memorable was his original composition aptly named ‘Tis the Season’ which reminded us that from the mouths of babes comes the wisdom that these holidays are meant for compassion, not commercialism. Original talent was the mode of the evening as Conductor Emeritus Charles Ellis, presented his own original arrangement of “Marshmallow World”, created specifically for the DSO and the Danville audience. Again, the talent within our local community seems to overrun the rim of its cup.

Finally, a tradition of sharing was showcased last night. God’s Storehouse was on hand, taking donations of food and spare change to help families in need right in our city. A quick rundown by Santa himself and his lovely Mrs. Claus proved the generosity of the audience. Over a ton of food and donations were received. Somewhere, someone will be enjoying a good meal this month because people came out to enjoy a free concert of holiday cheer in the name of tradition, a fine Danville tradition indeed. If you haven’t made it one of yours yet, you should. I’ll see you there next year!