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December 2024 starts with holiday flavor

By Eric Dundon

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra started December 2024 with concerts that felt like the holiday season, even if they didn’t explicitly contain many carols. On December 5, brass players moved from the back of the stage to the front for a Live at The Sheldon chamber music concert, curated by Principal Trumpet Steven Franklin and Associate Principal Trombone Amanda Stewart. “Fanfares and Festivals” celebrated the warm and tender side of brass playing, and included a range of music from the Renaissance to today for various ensembles, including brass quintet, trombone quartet, trumpet duo, and a full brass ensemble.

Then, on December 6-7, the SLSO traveled to Washington University for a program of Baroque music at the 560 Music Center. Two SLSO musicians took the spotlights as soloists on two concertos: piccolo player Ann Choomack on Vivaldi’s Piccolo Concerto, and Associate Principal Violist Alejandro Valdepeñas on a Viola Concerto by Telemann. Patrick Dupré Quigley led this festive performance, which also included selections by Arcangelo Corelli and J.S. Bach.

Brass players took center stage in the second Live at The Sheldon concert of the 2024/2025 season. (Photo by Virginia Harold)
In addition to curating, composing, and arranging Principal Trumpet Steven Franklin also conducted. (Photo by Virginia Harold)
The Live at The Sheldon Fanfares and Festivals program contained a variety of music, including Renaissance music for quintet. (Photo by Virginia Harold)
Second trumpet George Goad, right, and Principal Trumpet Steven Franklin play a fanfare by Igor Stravinsky. (Photo by Virginia Harold)
The audience responded with several standing ovations. (Photo by Virginia Harold)
The SLSO trombone section performs a selection by Francis Poulenc at the Live at The Sheldon Fanfares and Festivals concert. (Photo by Virginia Harold)
Co-curator Amanda Stewart welcomes the crowd to the Live at The Sheldon Fanfares and Festival concert, December 5 at The Sheldon. (Photo by Virginia Harold)
Ann Choomack plays Vivaldi’s Piccolo Concerto at the 560 Music Center for the SLSO’s Baroque Christmas concert. (Photo by Tyler Small)
Alejandro Valdepeñas, SLSO Associate Principal Viola, performed the a Viola Concerto by Telemann at the Baroque Christmas concert. (Photo by Tyler Small)
Patrick Dupré Quigley led the Baroque Christmas concert. (Photo by Tyler Small)
Celli and double bass at Baroque Christmas. (Photo by Tyler Small)
Assistant Concertmaster Hannah Ji reacts at the Baroque Christmas Concert. (Photo by Tyler Small)
Principal Bassoonist Andrew Cuneo at Baroque Christmas. (Photo by Tyler Small)

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