Symphony Brings Holiday Favorites to Martinsville

This Sunday, the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra will return to Martinsville for the annual Piedmont Arts On Stage! Holiday Pops Spectacular. This year's event, which promises to deliver old favorites and new surprises, will be held at 7 pm at Martinsville High School Auditorium.

Nearly 200 musicians and vocalists from the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra (RSO) and the Hollins University Concert Choir will perform seasonal favorites and new holiday arrangements with accompaniment by acclaimed soprano Adelaide Muir Trombetta.

Adelaide has enjoyed repeat engagements working with L’orchestra Giuseppe Verdi of Milan, Italy performing leading roles of Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow, Euridice in Orpheus in the Underworld and Lilli Vanessi “Katharina” in Kiss me Kate. Comfortable in the diverse worlds of opera, musical theater and sacred oratorio, Adelaide brings a lovely personality and bubbly presence to the stage.

RSO music director and conductor, David Wiley will delight with his famous antics as he leads the orchestra and chorus through holiday classics like Sleigh Ride, Jingle Bell Rock and I'll Be Home For Christmas, as well as the carol sing–along that has become a staple of the Symphony's Holiday Pops performances.

In a surprise appearance, Martinsville-native Brandon Martin will join the RSO on stage for a special song. Brandon is returning to Martinsville after a run in the Tony Award-winning musical, Dreamgirls. Since graduating from Bassett High School and Shenandoah University, he has been performing at theaters up and down the east coast. Brandon's past roles include Tiny Joe Dixon in Dreamgirls; Henry in South Pacific, Sarah’s friend in Ragtime and Clover in Madame. Brandon is celebrated locally for his performance as the Beast in the TheatreWorks production of Disney’s Beauty and The Beast and Adam in Children of Eden. He is very excited and honored to sing with the RSO in his hometown.

In the spirit of the season, and in partnership with Grace Network, Piedmont Arts is conducting a non–perishable food drive the night of the show. Doors will open at 6 pm for donations. Celebrate the season of giving and extend a helping hand to those less fortunate by donating to the Grace Network.

Tickets to the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops Spectacular are on sale at Piedmont Arts, 215 Starling Ave. or online at http://piedmontarts.org/. Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for adults and $20 for reserved seats.

This performance partially supported by a grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.