Youngstown Symphony Presents ‘A Country Christmas’

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, with conductor Randall Craig Fleischer, will present “A Country Christmas” on Dec. 7, a pops concert with a host of guest performers

The 8 p.m. concert at Powers Auditorium will feature Nashville artists Rachel Potter and Patrick Thomas, Youngstown-based fiddler Caitlin Hedge, the St. Rose Elementary School chorus and the Dori Yez Line Dancers.

Potter, of Florida, began her professional career as a performer at Disney World. She soon moved into musical theater and appeared on MTV’s “Legally Blond: The Search for Elle Woods” and later on Broadway as Morticia in “The Addams Family.” She currently lives in Nashville and is a member of the Steel Union Band.

Thomas, a pianist and guitarist, starred in “The Hank Williams Legacy” and appeared on Broadway in “Anything Goes.” When not performing at Nashville’s Big Band Dueling Piano Bar, he tours with several recording artists as a band leader.

Both Potter and Thomas last appeared with the YSO in November of 2015.

The program for the Dec. 7 concert will include holiday favorites such as “We Need a Little Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland, “Let It Go” from the film “Frozen” and pop songs “Achy Breaky Heart,” “9 to 5” and “Pretty Paper.”

Tickets range from $20 to $50 and are available at YoungstownSymphony.com, by phone at 330 744 0264 and at the DeYor Performing Arts Center box office, 260 W. Federal St., downtown.

Prior to the concert, Ruth’s Dance and Fitness Company will perform in the Grand Lobby. Also featured will be the Dana School of Music Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble, directed by Yukitada Onitsuka, who is principal tubist with the YSO and a Dana professor. The pre-show entertainment starts at 7 p.m.

After the concert, the YSO Jazz Project will perform in the Overture Restaurant.

On Dec. 8, the YSO and Fleischer will present a free Stained Glass Series concert at 4 p.m. at Niles First United Methodist Church, 608 N. Crandon Ave. Joining the orchestra will be a community choir performing the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s “The Messiah” oratorio.

Pictured: Rachel Potter and Patrick Thomas are guest performers for the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra’s presentation of “A Country Christmas” on Dec. 7.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.