WWT's Symphony Of The Lakes Plans 'Polar Express Concert'
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Staff Report-
“The Polar Express” will be an evening of delightful entertainment for the entire family and will take place at 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Warsaw Community High School Performing Arts Center.
Contributing to the Symphony performance, the Lakeland Community Choir, the Lakeland Youth Chorale and cast members of the Wagon Wheel Theatre’s holiday show, “The Sound of Music,” will collaborate for an evening of music.
The Symphony of the Lakes made its presence known in Winona Lake in 2006 and has since offered free concerts to the public. That model, however, proved difficult as the means to fund the symphony depended solely on contributions and grants. The Wagon Wheel Theatre since becoming a not-for-profit in 2012 recognized the value the organization offers the community and stepped in to help produce a symphony that will gain an impeccable professional reputation, according to a press release provided. As a result, the concerts will no longer be free of charge.
“It has become evident that in order for us to thrive and bring high quality performances to you, an admission charge is necessary. We as an orchestra want to engage the Warsaw/Winona Lake and surrounding communities, enriching the quality of life through live musical performances and educational programs,” says Tom Stirling, Symphony of the Lakes conductor and Wagon Wheel Theatre musical supervisor. “We envision a healthy and vibrant Symphony of the Lakes whose existence is central to the life of the community through which people of all ages come to feel, enjoy, and understand the richness and variety of music. This includes being able to support professional players who choose to become a member of the Symphony of the Lakes.”
Pricing will be kept affordable as tickets to “The Polar Express” are only $15 for adults, $5 for students 13 through college and free for all students 12 and under.
“It’s not just a concert,” said Will Dawson, Wagon Wheel Theatre director of operations. “This is a kick-off event for the Symphony of the Lakes and we are holding it to our professional standards. The event itself will blow you away. It really will be a holiday spectacle that will hopefully become a tradition for many of our community’s families.”
Stirling said, “When someone tries to describe the Christmas holiday season, there are many things that come to mind: faith, wonder, love, the birth of Jesus, Santa, giving, hope, belief … and so much more. If anyone knows the story of ‘The Polar Express’, they are aware that it is filled with all of this and so much more. There are so many of these ideas that go into the season of Christmas, that it seems fitting to title our concert ‘The Polar Express.’ This will be very evident in every piece of music that you hear at the concert.”
“The Polar Express” is one night only at the Warsaw Community High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit wagonwheeltheatre.org or call 574-267-8041.[[In-content Ad]]
“The Polar Express” will be an evening of delightful entertainment for the entire family and will take place at 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Warsaw Community High School Performing Arts Center.
Contributing to the Symphony performance, the Lakeland Community Choir, the Lakeland Youth Chorale and cast members of the Wagon Wheel Theatre’s holiday show, “The Sound of Music,” will collaborate for an evening of music.
The Symphony of the Lakes made its presence known in Winona Lake in 2006 and has since offered free concerts to the public. That model, however, proved difficult as the means to fund the symphony depended solely on contributions and grants. The Wagon Wheel Theatre since becoming a not-for-profit in 2012 recognized the value the organization offers the community and stepped in to help produce a symphony that will gain an impeccable professional reputation, according to a press release provided. As a result, the concerts will no longer be free of charge.
“It has become evident that in order for us to thrive and bring high quality performances to you, an admission charge is necessary. We as an orchestra want to engage the Warsaw/Winona Lake and surrounding communities, enriching the quality of life through live musical performances and educational programs,” says Tom Stirling, Symphony of the Lakes conductor and Wagon Wheel Theatre musical supervisor. “We envision a healthy and vibrant Symphony of the Lakes whose existence is central to the life of the community through which people of all ages come to feel, enjoy, and understand the richness and variety of music. This includes being able to support professional players who choose to become a member of the Symphony of the Lakes.”
Pricing will be kept affordable as tickets to “The Polar Express” are only $15 for adults, $5 for students 13 through college and free for all students 12 and under.
“It’s not just a concert,” said Will Dawson, Wagon Wheel Theatre director of operations. “This is a kick-off event for the Symphony of the Lakes and we are holding it to our professional standards. The event itself will blow you away. It really will be a holiday spectacle that will hopefully become a tradition for many of our community’s families.”
Stirling said, “When someone tries to describe the Christmas holiday season, there are many things that come to mind: faith, wonder, love, the birth of Jesus, Santa, giving, hope, belief … and so much more. If anyone knows the story of ‘The Polar Express’, they are aware that it is filled with all of this and so much more. There are so many of these ideas that go into the season of Christmas, that it seems fitting to title our concert ‘The Polar Express.’ This will be very evident in every piece of music that you hear at the concert.”
“The Polar Express” is one night only at the Warsaw Community High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit wagonwheeltheatre.org or call 574-267-8041.[[In-content Ad]]
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