FIRST TIME IN MIDCOAST ~ HOLIDAY POPS CONCERT AT CAMDEN OPERA HOUSE The Winter Solstice is known as a time of feasting, singing and gathering with friends. What better way to celebrate than attending the first annual Holiday Pops Concert at the beautiful Camden Opera House, December 21st. The magic of the season will be fully present when Janna Hymes conducts the Maine Pro Musica Orchestra. Maine Pro Musica is a 40 piece professional orchestra comprised of musicians from all over the State of Maine. Featured soloists include Kelly Cae Hogan, noted Metropolitan Opera Soprano, Joel Weiss and Hannah Batley. Kim Murphy will prepare the Holiday Pops Chorus and The Penobscot Bay Ringers, a five-octave ensemble, will perform a special segment. Santa has promised to make a special appearance, so bring the entire family to this wonderful holiday event! Soprano Kelly Cae Hogan will appear at the Metropolitan Opera this season in Die Walkure under the baton of Lorin Maazel. Previous performances at the Met have included Lohengrin, La Boheme, Tosca and Salome. Ms. Hogan made her German debut this year as Abigaille in Nabucco for Theater Bremen. She has performed throughout the U.S. with opera companies such as San Francisco, Santa Fe and Palm Beach. Ms. Hogan has worked with renowned conductors such as Placido Domingo and James Levine. She and her husband, tenor Joel Weiss, make their home in New York City. Page 2/Holiday Pops Conductor Janna Hymes is one of Americas conductors on the rise. Known for her energetic and passionate style and creative programming, she has worked with soloists Joshua Bell, James Taylor and Al Jarreau, among others. She is Music Director of the Williamsburg Symphonia and this year began her tenure as Music Director of Maine Pro Musica, a professional orchestra in Midcoast Maine. She has guest conducted throughout the United States and been Associate Conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony and the Canton Symphony Orchestra as well as the Teatro Massimo Opera House in Palermo, Italy. A Fulbright scholar, Janna has studied under such prominent conductors as Leonard Bernstein, and Gustav Meier. Originally from New York City, Ms. Hymes holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the College-Conservatory Cincinnati and has studied at the Tanglewood Music Center and Aspen Music Festival. Musically a breath of fresh air&.the music making is the best it has ever been&.a triumph for musicians, conductor and audience alike, superbly led and executed are just some of the press kudos that Janna has received. Thanks to major underwriter The Messler Family Foundation and lead sponsors Camdens Premier Inns, First Bancorp, Gordon Construction, The Strand and Village Soup. The concert will take place Sunday, December 21st at 3:00 PM. Tickets for adults are $25 - $30 and $12 for children under 16. Tickets can be purchased online through the Camden Opera House website: www.camdenoperahouse.com; by phoning (207) 470-7066 (ticket fees will apply) or by stopping by the Camden Town Office weekdays 8:30 AM  3:30 PM. # # # # # # # # # #