The Latshaw Pops Orchestra will continue its long tradition of annual Christmas concerts with a Dec. 9 performance in The Oaks Theater in Oakmont.
The 22-piece orchestra will be joined by singers and dancers for the 7:30 show in the theater at 310 Allegheny River Blvd. Bruce Lauffer will conduct and Mark Statler will serve as master of ceremonies.
This year’s concert will showcase traditional holiday music, including medleys of carols, seasonal standards and gospel songs.
“It will be a comfortable blend of carols, endearing stories and the popular favorites that people expect to hear,” said producer Gary Latshaw of Latshaw Productions.
“We’ve done a Christmas show for more than 30 years, and some part of that show is in every one that we do,” he said. “Variety is the key. It’s a bit of a throwback — it’s designed to remind people of those old-time TV variety shows.”
The evening also will include Christmas stories, audience participation, dance numbers and a visit from Santa Claus combined with the theme from “The Polar Express.”
The orchestra comprises professional union musicians from the Pittsburgh area.
“You’ve seen them on stage at the Benedum Center and Heinz Hall and sitting in with the Pittsburgh Symphony,” Latshaw said.
Maestro Lauffer is known for conducting the WQED-FM series, “Performances in Pittsburgh,” during which he led the Orchestra of the Alleghenies (formerly known as McKeesport Symphony Orchestra), and appearances with River City Brass Band, Beaver Valley Philharmonic, Royal Sylvan Orchestra and others.
Latshaw said emcee Statler is well-known from “Wheeling Jamboree,” the nation’s second-oldest country music radio broadcast (after the Grand Ole Opry), heard on WWOV 101.1 FM in Wheeling, W.Va.
“He’s a folksy kind of fellow with a mellifluous voice,” Latshaw said.
Featured vocalists will be Donna Groom, the lead female voice of The Skyliners, and Frank Czuri, former longtime lead singer with Pure Gold. Ensemble members include Jeremy and Amy Frantz, Courtney Meade and Hayden Heiserman.
Most of the orchestra’s arrangements are done in-house by Ralph Guzzi, a Pittsburgh-based trumpeter, music educator and music director and arranger for the “My Music” series on PBS.
The concert runs about 2 hours with an intermission.
“It’s a fast-paced show. People won’t feel like they’ve been sitting for 2 hours,” Latshaw said. “The orchestra will not disappoint.”
The $38 general admission ticket for “The Sounds of Christmas” is available from The Oaks Theater box office at 888-718-4253 or online at theoakstheater.com.
Latshaw noted that “The Sounds of Christmas” also is scheduled for Nov. 27 at The Strand Theatre in Zelienople, Dec. 5 at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg and Dec. 12 at the Lamp Theatre in Irwin. Information on those shows is available at latshawproductions.com.
