FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2015
Press Contact: Linda Brill
linda.e.brill@gmail.com or (614) 975-3495
“Holiday Spectacular” to
feature Holiday Movie Music
**Afternoon includes the popular Holiday Gift Basket Fundraiser**
Concert Sponsor:
New Albany, Ohio – The New Albany Symphony Orchestra will continue its 2015-2016 season by
presenting Holiday Spectacular on Sunday, December 20 at 3:00 p.m. The concert, which is expected
to last from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (including intermission), will have a holiday movie theme, and will
include hits from some of Hollywood’s classic depictions of the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. The
performance will feature special guest performers from Opera Columbus, Classical 101’s Christopher
Purdy in the timeless “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” and if past years are any indication, Jolly Old
Saint Nick may stop by if his busy holiday schedule permits. The concert, conducted by Music Director
Luis Biava, will take place at the Schottenstein Theater of the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for
the Arts, 100 East Dublin-Granville Road in New Albany.
“We are always thinking of ways to engage new audiences,” remarked Executive Director Heather
Garner. “Holiday movie music is traditional and timeless, and a common thread to the American
holiday experience. We thought that a concert of holiday movie music would be a terrific way to
celebrate the season in a very family-oriented way.”
TICKETS range in price from $13 to $21 in advance, or $15 to $23 day-of-show. Tickets can be
purchased by calling CAPA at (614) 469-0939; online at www.ticketmaster.com; in person at any
Ticketmaster outlet; or at the McCoy Center for the Arts beginning one hour prior to the performance.
This concert will contain something for everyone, from the young to the young-at-heart. Elementary
school-aged concertgoers will easily recognize tunes from Polar Express, Charlie Brown Christmas,
Frosty the Snowman, and Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. Those with a more mature pedigree will also
appreciate hits like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” first sung in 1944 by Judy Garland in the
movie Meet Me in St. Louis and “Jingle Bells” from Miracle on 34th Street.
Holiday Spectacular, continued
Raffle tickets for the annual Holiday Gift Basket Fundraiser will be sold prior to the concert and during
intermission at the price of 10 tickets for $20. Each ticket gets you the chance to win fabulous gift
baskets containing unique, thematic gifts and services donated by community groups, businesses, and
individuals. Basket values range from $50 to over $300. Additionally, $10 can purchase a ticket which
gives you a chance to win more than $1,000 in gift cards. Following the performance, winning audience
members will be able to claim their fabulous gift baskets after the concert. All proceeds benefit the
New Albany Symphony Orchestra.
Christopher Purdy earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The Ohio State University in 2008.
He was for many years a regular guest and occasional host on the Metropolitan Opera’s Texaco Opera
Quiz. He is a graduate in music of Boston University and studied Arts Administration at New York
University. He joined the staff of WOSU Classical 101 in 1991. He is currently host of Host of Music in
Mid-Ohio, Musica Sacra, Serenata, Saturday on Stage, Essential Classics and the Columbus Symphony
Orchestra broadcasts. Christopher also hosts Classical 101 By Request every Friday, and is guest host
on WOSU 89-7’s All Sides Weekend.
Luis Biava first studied conducting with Howard Halgedahl at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. He
continued his studies with Gustav Meier at the University of Michigan and at Tanglewood, with Antoni
Ros Marba at the Igualada Scola Municipal, with Jorma Panula in Germany, and with Michael Jinbo at
the Pierre Monteux School. His father, Luis Biava, who is conductor-in-residence of the Philadelphia
Orchestra and conducting professor at Temple University, has also coached him. Biava made the semifinal round of the National Conducting Institute with Leonard Slatkin and the National Symphony. He
has also conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra, Akron Youth Symphony, Orchestra Society of
Philadelphia, Festival Youth Symphony of the Americas, Puerto Rico Philharmonic, and Spoleto Festival
Incontri Pomeridiani concerts. Luis Biava is also principal cellist of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.
Now in its eighth season, the New Albany Symphony Orchestra (NASO) is a non-profit community
orchestra made up of professional musicians, community players, and students. NASO provides musical
enrichment for the community of New Albany through a series of four annual performances and
educational programs that attract audiences from all over Central Ohio.
NASO recognizes the following 2015-2016 Season supporters:
Martyn and Lynne Redgrave
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