POINSETTIA POPS - Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra

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Saturday, December 07, 2024 to Sunday, December 08, 2024

‘Tis the season for all of your holiday favorites—now with TWO days to enjoy! Due to popular demand, SSSO has added a second day of holiday cheer at UPH. Both concert days will feature guest soloists Jeanine Ouderkirk, Mowgli Giannitti and Elizabeth Sterling.

Don’t miss the pre-concert talk with our guest artists and Artistic Director/Conductor Glen Cortese at hour before each performance at UPH! It’s an excellent way to learn more about the music and an opportunity to ask questions about the performance. All are invited to attend.

Children under 18 are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult.

Run time: 2 hours

About the guest artists:

Jeanine Ouderkirk is a singer, pianist and woodwind doubler from Saratoga Springs, NY. As an alumni of Saratoga Springs High School and the Crane School of Music, she was drawn to education and has been teaching privately for twenty years in the Saratoga area, and teaching PK-8 music for ten of those years, currently at Saint Gregory’s School of Loudonville, NY. Jazz has long been a favorite scene for Jeanine, especially enjoying the improvisatory vignettes of her solo, duo and trio performances. Her influences and teachers include Bobby McFerrin (Circlesinging), Sheila Jordan (Jazz), Kathleen Allen (Voice) and Alan Woy (Bass Clarinet). The singer is grateful for each opportunity to share artfully crafted songs in intimate and unique settings, and most certainly at Poinsettia Pops with the beautiful music of Maestro Cortese, the SSSO and two amazing singers.

Mowgli Giannitti is a Bassist, Singer, Composer, Multi-Instrumentalist, Teacher, and Actor currently based in Upstate NY. He has performed and recorded alongside Grammy-winning musicians, composed music for Bessie-winning dancers, toured across the US and Europe, and instructed countless students on bass, guitar, piano, drums, and voice. Angling for “most prolific singing bassist of the year”, Mowgli can be found playing bass and/or singing in regional orchestras, Salsa band Alma Picante, Bluegrass trio Heavy Nettles, Funk/Reggae group Joshua West Band, Old Time fiddler/singer Ida Mae Specker, or any number of freelance engagements. Mowgli’s own compositions can be heard in the project Satyrdagg – a large “Alchemical Jazz/Rock-Opera” ensemble – also featuring fellow SSSO singer, Jeanine Ouderkirk. Music is available on all major streaming platforms.

Elizabeth Sterling grew up in Saratoga Springs and performs regularly as an actor and musician with several Capital Region theater companies, including Schenectady Light Opera Company, Home Made Theater and Not So Common Players. Most recently, she played the role of Helen Bechtel in SLOC’s production of “Fun Home” and played violin in the pit for HMT’s “The Secret Garden.” Liz is a graduate of Binghamton University and The Crane School of Music and teaches in the Gloversville Enlarged School District where she instructs middle and high school vocal and instrumental students and serves as music department chair. She also sings with the Schola Cantorum at Bethesda Episcopal Church in Saratoga Springs and has been featured as a soloist in several performances of local composer Maria Riccio Bryce’s “Requiem: What Remains Is Love.” Elizabeth is looking forward to singing again at UPH for Nacre Dance Group’s “Christmas Oratorio Tea” on December 15th!