PPM’s Christmas Concert 2015

Poster design by Ellie Bradshaw. Click to enlarge.

Portsmouth Pro Musica Presents

‘Christmas from the Americas’ Holiday Concerts

This holiday season, Portsmouth Pro Musica is shining a spotlight on the rich talents of American composers in two December concerts. “Christmas from the Americas” will feature Conrad Susa’sCarols and Lullabies from the Southwest and Gwyneth Walker’s Appalachian Carols in an uplifting, eclectic choral performance. Concerts will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Dover on Friday, December 11 at 8 pm, and at North Church in Portsmouth on Sunday, December 13 at 3 pm.

Portsmouth Pro Musica Artistic Director Priscilla Stevens French chose to pair the works of Susa and Walker to showcase the depth and diversity of American holiday music. “Conrad Susa’s carols are characterized by an earthy approach,” explains French. “They are beautiful and exotic at the same time, with influences from Spain, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Accompanied by harp, guitar and marimba, this medley of traditional carols brims with Spanish warmth and color.”

In contrast, the works of Gwyneth Walker feature the Appalachian folk and spiritual tradition. “These carols have been arranged to retain the melodic and harmonic simplicity of the original carols,” French continued. “They evoke a variety of moods — from solemn to humorous and reverent to joyous – reflecting the emotions many of us experience during the holiday season.”

Portsmouth Pro Musica’s accompanist Robert Littlefield will be joined by three guest musicians for the “Christmas from the Americas” concerts. International performer Sorana Scarlat will be featured on harp, Mitch Shuldman will play guitar, and Christopher Vinciguerra will play the marimba, adding vibrant and authentic sound to both suites of holiday carols.

Season sponsors of Portsmouth Pro Musica include: Access Sports Medicine & Orthopedics, Anchorage by the Sea, Beswick Engineering, DF Richard, Direct Capital – A Division of CIT Bank, Eastern Propane and Oil, KPF Global Investments, Liberty Mutual, Margaritas Mexican Restaurants, Measured Progress, and Northland Forest Products.

EVENT DATES AND TICKET INFO

Friday, December 11th at 8pm at St. Mary’s in Dover

Sunday, December 13th at 3pm at North Church in Portsmouth

Tickets are available at the door ($15 general admission; $12 seniors/students) and in advance ($12.00, adult; $10, senior/students) by clicking here or at these area locations:

The Flower Kiosk – 61 Market St, Portsmouth

Napoli Market & Deli – 261 South St, Portsmouth

Philbrick’s Fresh Market – 775 Lafayette Rd, Portsmouth

Ear Craft Music – 432 Central Ave, Dover

Water Street Bookstore – 125 Water St, Exeter

About the Composers and Harp Soloist:

Conrad Susa (1935-2013) studied at the Carnegie Institute of Technology and the Juilliard School. He was composer-in-residence at the Old Globe Theater and on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He was particularly known for writing five operas, as well as choral works and music for various plays.
Dr. Gwyneth Walker pursues a career as full-time composer living on a dairy farm in Braintree, VT. She is recipient of the Year 2000 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Vermont Arts Council. She has composed extensively for orchestra, band and chorus.

A native of Romania, Sorana A. Scarlat, nationally and internationally known harpist, began a distinguished career at age eighteen. Sorana started playing the harp in Bucharest at age nine and has studied with world famous harpists from Romania, Hungary, Belgium and Italy. She appeared at the Fifth & Sixth World Harp Congress in Denmark & USA. She also performed as a soloist in recitals, concerts and chamber ensembles. She is a prizewinner of the Bucharest Music Competition, and Romanian Music Interpretation Contest. She was appointed principal harpist with Ploiesti Philharmonic Orchestra, Romania and she spent several years playing with National Philharmonic Orchestra and National Radio Orchestra in Bucharest, Romania.

After graduating in 1996, with a Bachelor of Arts in Harp Performance, from the Academy of Music in Bucharest, Romania, Sorana moved to the United States and began collaborating with Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, Mobile Symphony Orchestra, Symphony of Southeast Texas, Gulf Coast Symphony, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and China National Symphony Orchestra.

Sorana presently lives in New Hampshire where she is freelancing and teaching. She also performs solo and with various orchestras in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and New York.