Christmas Meets Brass: Unique Concert Gets People Into Holiday Spirit
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Center City came alive Saturday night during the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra's 18th annual 'A Holiday in Brass' concert.
Hundreds gathered at Saint Mark's Church on Locust Street to hear what Bravo Brass conductor Paul Bryan describes as a holiday show unlike most others:
"The ensemble that's playing is only brass instruments. It's one of three ensembles in the country that is just brass ensemble, high school-aged brass players playing."
Close to two dozen gifted musicians performed. Among them, 17-year-old Madelyn Spina, who plays the french horn and had three solos.
"It's a lot of pieces that are interesting, they're challenging and they sound gorgeous in this acoustic," she tells KYW Newsradio.
Henry Shankweiler, also 17, plays the trombone, and says this is a concert you don't experience often:
"One of my favorite things about this group is just the sound we can produce. The brass sound is very unique compared to every other instrument."
Bryan adds this is the perfect way to get people into the Christmas spirit:
"Brass and Christmas go together, and it's a really nice opportunity for the students to put everybody into the holiday frame of mind."
The concert featured songs of the season mixed in with music of the Renaissance.
Proceeds benefit the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra.