Golden Bells   |   Ann and George Colony Hall   |   Sunday, 2:00 pm

Celebrate the season with the Wallingford Symphony Orchestra's festive Holiday Concert! Enjoy a magical evening filled with holiday favorites and timeless classics, featuring arrangements like "It’s Christmastime" with beloved tunes such as "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," and "Silver Bells." Relive the magic of the season with "Christmas at the Movies," featuring memorable pieces from Home Alone, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, The Polar Express, and Nightmare Before Christmas. Delight in the harmonious sounds of "Festive Sounds of Hanukah" and a special performance by Harmony On The Sound, led by Master Director Karen Sweeters, including "The Holly and the Ivy," "O Holy Night," and "Joy to the World." Wallingford's rising star, Lauren Wiedenmann, will also join us for a special vocal performance.

Don't miss this joyous celebration and experience the warmth and wonder of the holidays with us!

04.26.2025

Golden Sounds - Magical Night   |   Ann and George Colony Hall   |   Saturday, 5:00 pm

​Wallingford Symphony Orchestra’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert

Join the Wallingford Symphony Orchestra for a spectacular evening of music, celebrating 50 years of extraordinary performances! This milestone concert will feature an exciting lineup of classical masterworks, Broadway favorites, jazz legends, and cinematic hits, brought to life by our talented musicians and special guest artists.

Pre-Concert Reception

Join us for an elegant pre-concert reception from 5:00 to 6:45 PM, featuring live music, delicious hors d’oeuvres, and specialty drinks in the concert lobby. Sip on a Signature Lavender Limoncello Spritz or enjoy a selection of wine, beer, and coffee while savoring a variety of gourmet bites, including artisan cheeses, savory hors d’oeuvres, and decadent desserts.

As you mingle, take a walk down memory lane with a special display of vintage program booklets, posters, and articles celebrating the orchestra’s rich 50-year history. Enjoy archival concert recordings playing in the background, bringing past performances to life.

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Celebration Concert – Begins at 7 PM

Featured Guest Artists

Kariné Poghosyan, Piano
Hayes Greenfield, CRH ’75, Tenor Saxophone
WSO Vocalist Susan Yankee
Wallingford’s Young “Rising Star” Miguel Angel Vasquez
Performance by the 2025 First Prize Winner of the Mitchel Family Fund String Competition

A Grand Musical Journey

The program opens with two powerful fanfares—Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and Joan Tower’s Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman—setting the stage for an evening of bold and celebratory music. The energy continues with Shostakovich’s Festive Overture and the jubilant Golden Jubilee March by John Philip Sousa, leading into the lively Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka and the timeless beauty of On the Beautiful Blue Danube, celebrating Johann Strauss II’s 200th birthday.

The first half concludes with selections from two of Broadway’s most beloved musicals: The Lion King and Wicked. Audiences will be transported to the African savanna with Elton John’s unforgettable hits, including Circle of Life and Can You Feel the Love Tonight, followed by the spellbinding melodies of Wicked, featuring Defying Gravity and Popular.

Intermission

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The second half of the concert shines a spotlight on Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, a timeless masterpiece celebrating its 100th anniversary, performed by the brilliant pianist Kariné Poghosyan. This iconic piece, blending classical and jazz influences, remains one of the most beloved works in American music history.

The celebration continues with a tribute to the golden age of jazz, featuring Duke Ellington! A Medley for Orchestra, arranged by Calvin Custer. The WSO will bring Ellington’s sophisticated swing to life with favorites like Sophisticated Lady and It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).

Closing the concert in grand style, A Salute to the Big Bands will take us back to the swing era with classics such as Sing, Sing, Sing and Pennsylvania 6-5000, featuring a standout performance by Hayes Greenfield on tenor saxophone.

Don’t miss this unforgettable evening as we celebrate 50 years of the Wallingford Symphony Orchestra with a program that bridges classical brilliance, Broadway magic, and the electrifying sounds of jazz!

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TBD

July  Pops  |  Choate Rosemary Hall Chapel Lawn   |   TBD