By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
A sold-out crowd of more than 600 concertgoers packed the West Haven High School auditorium Dec. 19 to see a spectacular holiday performance by the New Haven Symphony Orchestra.
For the second straight year, the symphony performed its Holiday Extravaganza concert to raise funds for new musical instruments at Carrigan Intermediate and Bailey Middle schools.
The benefit concert, paid for by an arts grant, was once again presented by Mayor Dorinda Borer, who greeted the all-ages crowd and even played a bell instrument on a Christmas classic.
Carrigan and Bailey will use the proceeds of discounted tickets made possible by the grant to buy the instruments for students.
The symphony, led by principal pops conductor Chelsea Tipton II, performed “a holly jolly program of festive favorites, sing-along carols, and seasonal surprises for the whole family!”
Highlights included music from “The Polar Express,” “Home Alone,” “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” and “Sleigh Ride,” as well as a visit from Santa Claus.
The West Haven High chorus, directed by Jason Thomas, also performed with the symphony.
The New Haven Symphony is America’s fourth-oldest orchestra, founded in 1894.
For more than a century, the symphony has continued the traditions of performance and education by supporting programs in schools and communities and presenting classical repertoire and pops concerts.
(City Photos/Adonis Giantomidis)