Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra to present Holiday Concert

The Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. David Newby, and the Tehachapi Symphonic Chorus, under the direction of Sandra Adams, will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8 at Country Oaks Baptist Church, 20915 Schout Road.

The program will begin with Cello Christmas with cellist Helen Newby, who continually seeks ways to expand the technical and expressive boundaries of her instrument through close collaboration with other innovative performers, composers and artists. She has been recognized for her “warm tone” and “intimate balanced sound” (The Washington Post), and as a “superb” and “committed champion” of new music (Cleveland Classical).

Her premiere solo album, Dialogue, featuring commissions by David Bird, Danny Clay, Adam Hirsch, Kurt Isaacson and Haley Shaw, was released in early 2017 on Ephemeral Stream Recordings.

She recently released her second album, A Cello for Christmas, which features her own multi-cello arrangements of several holiday songs. In addition to an active career as a performer, Newby is equally dedicated to education and working with emerging composers, performers, and communities of listeners.

When COVID struck in 2020, Newby began arranging, recording and mixing her own covers of various pop songs. What began as a seemingly temporary means with which to deal with boredom and lack of work eventually turned into one of her biggest passions. Among these pop songs are a variety of holiday tunes that are arranged for multiple cellos (or rather, multiple Helen’s).

Newby was invited by Dr. Newby to expand some of these arrangements into a work for orchestra + solo cello. This has been such a delightful challenge to work on, as this will be her largest scale arrangement to date! The songs included in this orchestral arrangement are “White Christmas,” “Mele Kalikimaka,” “The Christmas Song,” “Silver Bells,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “All I Want for Christmas is You.”

“I grew up performing with the Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra as a kid and am so excited to join them for this holiday concert!” Newby said.

The program will continue after the intermission with selections from G. F. Handel’s “Messiah.” The Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra will be joined by guest soloists and the Tehachapi Symphonic Chorus and Director Sandra Adams as well as a few members from the Antelope Valley Master Chorale.

Audience members may meet directors, soloists and musicians during the reception following the concert. All Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra concerts are free to the community, although donations are appreciated.

For more information, see www.tehachapiorchestra. com or call 821-7511.