Audience members watch as SCC students perform alongside Orchestra Director Dr. Teri Yumae during October’s “Sounds of Community” concert. Photo courtesy

FAIRFIELD, CA (MPG) - Solano College Music is pleased to announce its winter concert, “Deck the Halls”, directed by Solano Community College Chamber Choir director Michael Reilly and Solano Community College Chamber Orchestra director Dr. Teri Yumae. The concert will be held in the Solano Community College Performing Arts Center Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.

The Solano Community College Chamber Orchestra will be performing a selection of songs from Camille Saint-Saëns’ “The Carnival of the Animals,” a humorous musical suite inspired by a parade of animals and what that might sound like. Students will perform a number of compositions, including “The Royal March of the Lion,” “Hens and Roosters,” “Tortoises,” “The Elephant,” “Fossils,” and more. 

“I’m excited to play “Carnival.” It’s a really fun composition as a whole and hearing the composer’s interpretation of what these animals sound like is cute. “Tortoises” is particularly funny,” said Maura Freiermuth, who will play the French horn at “Deck the Halls.”

Freiermuth has played trumpet and French horn since elementary school. She started taking music classes at Solano Community College for fun this year after receiving her bachelor’s degree from Cal Maritime, where music courses aren’t offered.

Maura Freierbach (second from left) plays the French horn alongside her classmates during Solano College Music’s “Sounds of Community” concert in October. Photo courtesy

“It’s been so intriguing to be back playing music. Everyone is talking about the music theory courses and it’s like, ‘I wanna know that!’”

“They don’t pick boring music, and they don’t pick songs just to make the crowd happy. They pick music that musicians want to play,” said Freiermuth of the directors’ musical selections. “It makes better music because if a musician plays the same old humdrum songs that have been played for a million years, it’s hard to make them sound new.”

The Solano Community College Chamber Orchestra and Solano Community College Chamber Choir will be collaborating on “Wachet Auf, ruft uns die Stimme,” also known as “Sleepers Awake,” a cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach.

“The French horns play a note that is really high register, so it pushes our abilities,” said Freiermuch. “Playing in a group, I have more fear of messing up than of stage fright. But if you play your mistake with confidence, hopefully no one will notice.”

In addition to Solano Community College students, some faculty and administrative staff will perform, including VP of Academic Affairs David Williams and instructors Rachel Smith (Graphic Design), Rachel Purdie (History), and Andrew Wesley (Music). Guests will enjoy a free candlelit concert and free hot cocoa to ring in the holiday spirit. The Solano Community College Performing Arts Center is an ADA-accessible venue.

For more information, please visit solanocollegetheatre.org or call (707) 864-7100.