Old friends will be in Chatham Dec. 3, to bring their orchestral style to the Christmas Concert, Comfort and Joy, at 8 p.m. at the Kiwanis Theatre.
The musicians of the former Orchestra London are in the process of reorganizing and have been playing under the temporary name #We Play On.
Mary Douglas and the supporters of the moribund Orchestra London Chatham-Kent Branch arranged to have the musicians come to Chatham for a concert, according to Frank Scott Pearse, who is also a long-time member of the group.
“The former musicians of Orchestra London are performing still and we asked them to come down,” Pearse said. “They are coming down to renew acquaintances; everyone from the concert master on down is coming.”
Pearse added that the concert will be like old times, although in the future, the group hopes to honour both traditional favourites, but also find ways to freshen up the concert-going experience.
“Brian Jackson is conducting, as he did for most of the last 40 years and the orchestra will be approximately 40 players, including many of the long-time leaders such as concertmaster Joseph Lanza and principal cellist Christine Newland,” Pearse noted.
The soloist will Sonja Gustafson who includes jazz, classical and opera fans among her followers.
Tickets are $40 and available at the Kiwanis Theatre box office, cktickets.com or call 519-354-8338.
