A delightful mix of music styles and moods are planned for the Warm Music for a Cold Night performance of the George School Orchestra and Chorale scheduled on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. in the George School Meetinghouse. The performance is free and open to the public.

The wind ensemble will perform James Swearingen’s “Blue Ridge Saga,” while the string ensemble plays the first movement of Heinrich Stölzel’s Concerto in D for trumpet and strings. The Lab Band will perform a new piece, Robert Sheldon’s “The Lords of Greenwich,” inspired by the music of Gustav Holst, whose piece “Mars” was performed earlier this season. The Chorale, a nineteen-member auditioned choral group, will preview a piece they will sing in a concert later in the month.

In addition to these groups, which meet as classes during the school day, small, specialized chamber music ensembles have been meeting outside of class. The Brass Ensemble, coached by Steven Heitzer, Flute/Oboe Ensemble, coached by Karen Hallowell, and Percussion Ensemble, coached by Butch Reed, are eager to debut their own performance before a George School audience. Their selections will range from a Scott Joplin rag to the traditional Shaker song “Simple Gifts” and from a percussion march to an improv session.

“It’s fun to expose kids to all different kinds of music,” said Betsy Loughran, strings teacher.

The Choral and Instrumental Highlights concert is one of nine performances organized by the George School Arts Department for the 2011-12 year. The Arts Department offers classes in visual and performing arts, including photography, digital imaging, video production, woodworking and design, communication design, painting and drawing, ceramics, stagecraft, theater arts, theater performance, musical theater, dance, vocal and instrumental performance, and music theory, with Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate course options. For more information about the arts at George School, and a complete schedule of performances and exhibits, visit http://www.georgeschool.org/arts.