Warm choral sounds, familiar melodies, and a sense of shared tradition fill the air this Wednesday evening at 9:00 on WHRO-FM with “A Local Touch – Music with a Virginia Connection.” Host Raymond Jones curates a program rich in seasonal color, drawn from ensembles and musicians across the Commonwealth.
The program features music by Northern Virginia composer Christopher Hoh, whose “Behold That Star” is performed by organist Shawn Dawson alongside The Stanberry Singers, directed by Paul Stanbery. Staying in Northern Virginia, the acclaimed ensemble Choralis performs Bob Chilcott’s “Wenceslas,” a vivid and storytelling setting inspired by the legend of the Bohemian king and his page on the Feast of Stephen.
From Hampton Roads, the Virginia Chorale, under the direction of Charles Woodward, is heard from their 2023 concert “Sing We Nowell,” recorded at Christ & St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk. This concert honored the 20th anniversary of NATO’s Allied Command Transformation, based in Norfolk, by performing carols and holiday favorites by composers from member countries. Highlights include Tomás Luis de Victoria’s “O Magnum Mysterium,” the French carol “Il Est Né, le Divin Enfant,” and “Northern Lights” by Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds.
JoAnn Falletta leads the Virginia Symphony Orchestra in Leroy Anderson’s beloved “A Christmas Festival,” a bright orchestral tapestry that weaves together familiar carols and has become a staple of seasonal concerts. And then we’ll have the Virginia Wesleyan Chorale, directed by Bryson Mortensen, in “Sing We Now at Christmas,” followed by a unique sonic moment as Dean Shostak performs seasonal music on the glass armonica.
The spirit of storytelling and warmth comes through with a special collaboration as Jamie Farr, best known for his role as Klinger on MASH, joins the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band from Langley Air Force Base in a musical telling of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
Tune in to WHRO-FM 90.3, or listen online through the Media Player or your smart device, and enjoy a night of holiday favorites with “A Local Touch.”
If you value programs like "A Local Touch" and the work of Raymond Jones in highlighting and supporting Virginia’s local classical music scene, this is a wonderful time to consider contributing. Listener support makes it possible to bring these performances and stories to the air. Thank you!
