Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Presents HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, Today

The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera will be presenting the annual family holiday tradition, Home for the Holidays, on Saturday, December 17 at 7:30pm and Sunday, December 18 at 3:00pm at the Tivoli Theatre. Each season, the show is re-created with special guest artists, traditional songs that everyone loves and new innovative programming. Over the past several years, the show has included local and nationally renowned guest artists, vocalists, dancers, costumed characters, bells, and choruses.

The 2016 family-friendly Home for the Holidays concerts are especially entertaining thanks to conductor Jim Stephenson. One of our 6 living composers featured this season; he has created a program and written music that incorporates classical holiday music with popular, fun music that will engage children as well as adults. Michele Ragusa will be the vocalist with a special appearance by Chattanooga's Neshawn Calloway.

Santa will be available in the lobby for pre-concert and intermission for photos and wish-giving at both performances. Tickets start at $21 (while supplies last) and students and kids are $15 each. Tickets are available online at www.chattanoogasymphony.org or by calling 423.267.8583.

About The Artists

James M. Stephenson, conductor
Leading American orchestras, instrumentalists, and wind ensembles around the world have performed the music of Chicago based composer James M. Stephenson, both to critical acclaim and the delight of audiences. The Boston Herald raved about "straightforward, unabashedly beautiful sounds," suggesting "Stephenson deserves to be heard again and again!" A formal sense of melody and tonality characterize his music, each embedded in a contemporary soundscape. These qualities, coupled with the composer's keen ability to write to each occasion, have led to a steady stream of commissions and ongoing projects.

Additionally, Compose Yourself!, Stephenson's landMark Young-audience work has now been performed over 300 times since its creation in 2002, engaging children in New Zealand and Canada and across the U.S.

His music catalog now boasts concertos and sonatas for nearly every instrument, earning him the moniker "The Concerto King" from Chicago Symphony clarinetist John Yeh. The vast majority of those compositions came through commissions by and for major symphony principal players, in Chicago, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Washington DC, St. Louis, Oregon, Milwaukee, and Dallas, among others. Nearly all of his solo brass works (over 50) have been professionally recorded, and in total, his extensive catalog for all instruments can be heard on over 30 CDs.

James Stephenson is also a highly sought-after arranger and conductor, rounding out his constantly busy schedule. His arrangements have been performed/recorded/broadcast by virtually every major orchestra in the country, including the Boston Pops, Cincinnati Pops, New York Pops and more. On the podium, Stephenson has led orchestras in Bozeman, Charleston, Ft. Myers, Modesto, and Wyoming, in addition to numerous concert bands. With the Lake Forest Symphony, near his Illinois home, he has not only conducted but also has served for six years as Composer-in-Residence. His conducting debut with the Chattanooga Symphony comes at their 2016 Holiday Concert.

Michele Ragusa, vocalist

"Ms. Ragusa gave an inspired comic performance with consistently hilarious effect." -New York Times

"Ragusa is an absolute scream.....threatening to steal the show with nearly every entrance and exit." - Broadway.com

Is thrilled to be making her debut with the Chattanooga Symphony! She has starred in the Holiday Pops with Marvin Hamlisch and the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center; JoAnn Fallatta and the Buffalo Philharmonic; and with Stuart Chafetz for the, Toronto, Detroit, Indianapolis, Long Beach and Modesto Symphonies as well as the Naples and Baltimore Philharmonic's.

She also recently starred with both the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Kansas City Symphony for concert versions of "The Music Man" and also starred in concert versions of "Funny Girl" and "Kiss Me Kate" with the Buffalo Philharmonic. She last starred on Broadway in Mel Brook's "Young Frankenstein" as Elizabeth, succeeding Megan Mullally. She won the Barrymore Award and received both Lortel and Drama League nominations for her performance as Corinna in Christopher Durang's "Adrift in Macao" at Primary Stages-NYC and most recently starred in the Premier of "Radio Girl" at the Goodspeed Opera House with music by Henry Kreiger ("Dreamgirls").

Neshawn Calloway, featured soloist

Born and raised in Olive Branch, Mississippi, Neshawn Calloway grew up singing and directing choirs in the church. Upon graduating high school Neshawn attended Memphis State University, currently the University of Memphis, as a business major. It took a couple of years for her to finally realize she needed to follow her heart and pursue music. She began formal vocal training during her undergraduate years at the University of Memphis. In 1994 she moved to Chattanooga to pursue a master's degree in Music Education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Upon completion of this degree she worked as music department coordinator and choir director at Chattanooga State Community College. During her tenure there she conducted two classical ensembles, jazz vocal ensemble and gospel choir. In 2001 she moved to the public school system and became choir director of six vocal ensembles at Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts. Neshawn's ensembles have consistently scored superior ratings in local and regional festivals. In 2013 she was namEd Hamilton County teacher of the year, one of the few arts teachers ever receiving this honor. She is professionally affiliated with the East Tennessee Vocal Association, Tennessee Music Education Association, National Association for Music Educators, and the National Association of Negro Musicians. As a classically trained singer she is versatile in a variety of musical genres.

During her graduate studies Neshawn worked as an intern for the Bessie Smith Cultural Center. It was there she learned about the music and life of the legendary singer while working to collect artifacts for the exhibit that is still displayed at the center. Neshawn was asked to perform a few of Bessie's numbers at the grand opening of the center and that began her much requested performances of the music of Bessie Smith. She began performing educational shows for classes at Chattanooga State. Throughout the city of Chattanooga she is known for her performances of the Empress of the Blues. Her love of jazz and blues took her to Hamm, Germany in 2012 where she performed for a sold out audience. As a jazz and blues singers, Neshawn is widely known in the Chattanooga area and performs frequently in various venues such as, The Camp House, Jazzanooga, and The Bessie Smith Cultural Center. She has also performed for the Chattanooga Nightfall series and Riverbend Festival. She also serves as the lead singer for neo soul band, Sound Advice.

CONCERT EXTRAS

Santa will be in the lobby pre-concert starting at 6:30pm and during intermission for pictures and wish-giving.

TICKETS

Tickets range from $21 to $83 with discounts for students and educators and can be purchased by calling the CSO Box Office at 423.267.8583 or online at www.chattanoogasymphony.org.

About Us

The Chattanooga Symphony and Opera continues to inspire, engage, and enrich the greater Chattanooga community as it enters its 84th season. In addition to Masterworks, Pops, Chamber, and special event concerts, the CSO will produce their first fully-staged opera in 7 years with Puccini's Madame Butterfly. Conducted by Music Director Kayoko Dan, the CSO consists of top players from the Chattanooga area as well as from across the southern region. Well known for its education and engagement events, the musicians of the CSO perform to more than 20,000 students each year throughout the greater Chattanooga Community.

(Photo Credit: Sarah Stewart)