sounds of the season - santa at the movies
About the program
The child in you will enjoy selections from March of the Toys, Miracle on 34th Street, Polar Express, and A Charlie Brown Christmas. You will then be transported to the stage with selections from Tchaikovsky’s classic The Nutcracker. Joining the orchestra for the second half of the program will be the combined vocal resources of the Rhinebeck Choral Club, and students from both Franklin D. Roosevelt and John Jay High Schools. The concert will conclude with the heartwarming standard White Christmas, three holiday songs from Home Alone, and Leroy Anderson’s iconic Sleigh Ride! Guest conductor - William Stevens.
Program subject to change.
guest conductor
William Stevens is an active performer and conductor throughout the Hudson Valley. He is one of the band and jazz band directors at Union Vale Middle School in the Arlington Central School District in LaGrange, NY, with a middle school band program of around 300 students. William’s professional conducting experience includes 10 productions with the Admiral Players, principal conductor of the Hudson Valley Saxophone Ensemble, and guest conductor for the Northern Dutchess Symphony where he led the New York State premiere of the Scott Routenberg Concerto for Jazz Violin and Orchestra. He was also chosen as a conducting finalist for the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra (WCO) and was reviewed by Leslie Gerber of Hudson Valley One: “I have never heard the WCO sound as good as it did during this concert… Those of us who were in the audience were lucky to be there.”
William has been sought after as an All-County conductor and has lead groups in Tioga, Montgomery, Putnam, Orange, and Sullivan counties. He is currently the principal clarinetist for the Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra and the Greater Newburgh Symphony, and has performed in Europe and at Carnegie Hall with the New York Wind Symphony. William received his Bachelor of Music Education and Performance degree from SUNY Fredonia, and his Masters degree in Clarinet Performance from Ithaca college. He has studied conducting with Dr. Russel C. Mikkelson (former Director of Bands, SUNY Fredonia), Dr. Paula Holcomb (Director of Bands, SUNY Fredonia), Dr. David Rudge (Director of Orchestras, SUNY Fredonia), and Dr. Steve Petersen (former Director of Bands, Ithaca College). William lives in Poughkeepsie, NY with his supportive husband Chris and their adorable pug Jake.
William has been sought after as an All-County conductor and has lead groups in Tioga, Montgomery, Putnam, Orange, and Sullivan counties. He is currently the principal clarinetist for the Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra and the Greater Newburgh Symphony, and has performed in Europe and at Carnegie Hall with the New York Wind Symphony. William received his Bachelor of Music Education and Performance degree from SUNY Fredonia, and his Masters degree in Clarinet Performance from Ithaca college. He has studied conducting with Dr. Russel C. Mikkelson (former Director of Bands, SUNY Fredonia), Dr. Paula Holcomb (Director of Bands, SUNY Fredonia), Dr. David Rudge (Director of Orchestras, SUNY Fredonia), and Dr. Steve Petersen (former Director of Bands, Ithaca College). William lives in Poughkeepsie, NY with his supportive husband Chris and their adorable pug Jake.
