Early Christmas Present: Asheville Symphony Comes to WCU on Sat. Dec. 15; Local Singers Featured, Including William Martin

[Editor's note: tickets are no longer available; the show sold out on December 10.]

The Asheville Symphony Orchestra will perform a holiday concert at Western Carolina University at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Fine and Performing Arts Center.

Performing a concert titled "Holiday Pops," the symphony will feature the Western Carolina Community Chorus under the direction of James Dooley, and soloists Alison Trainer and William Martin.

Both soloists are widely recognized performers and have appeared in both regional and international performances. Trainer is an accomplished vocal performer, and Martin is a tenor and associate professor of music at WCU.

The performance will be conducted by Asheville Symphony music director Daniel Meyer. The show will offer a variety of holiday and Christmas favorites such as "Frosty the Snowman," "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." The audience is invited to participate in a sing-a-long featuring "Joy to the World" and "Deck the Hall," and other favorite Christmas carols.

"The sounds of Christmas are a legacy for all in our communities. These sounds will come alive in the Holiday Pops concert through the magical sound of a symphony orchestra," said Robert Kehrberg, dean of the College of Fine and Performing Arts.  "The Asheville Symphony Orchestra is a treasure to our region with professional performers throughout our region and nation. Anyone who attends will be impressed and changed by this concert."

An online video commercial prepared by WCU is available (click here).

(Shown at right: conductor Daniel Meyer.)