The Magic of Holiday
Traditions Together
Saturday, December 13 at 3:00 PM, Clemens Center, Elmira
Enjoy the dazzling talents of featured jazz pianist Christian Li, the inspiring voices of the Corning Painted Post Choristers, and the rich harmonies of the Chorus of the Southern Finger Lakes in uplifting selections by John Rutter (honoring his 80th birthday) and local favorite Dan Forrest. Familiar carols like Angels We Have Heard on High and Joy to the World will fill you with holiday cheer, while Avner Finberg’s Dances in Freygish adds a spirited burst of cultural celebration.
Celebrate the magic of the season with a heartwarming concert that brings our community together in music and spirit. Featuring the toe-tapping fun of Sleigh Ride—complete with festive hats—this concert has something for everyone.
Whether it’s your favorite tradition or your first time joining us, this festive concert is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays—together.
Fun for the whole family, kids under 18 are free with an adult ticket purchase.
Come early to enjoy a pre-concert performance by the Youth Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes in the Upper Lobby beginning at 2:20 PM conducted by Margaret Matthews & Melissa Moore. And immediately following the concert, you are cordially invited join us for a festive dinner at our fundraiser, Afterglow.
The Magic of Holiday Traditions Together Concert is sponsored in part by Chemung Canal Trust Company and Hilliard Corporation.
View the Digital Concert Program here.
2025-2026 ORCHESTRA SERIES
Sat, December 13
3:00 PM
Clemens Center
207 Clemens Center Pkwy, Elmira, NY 14901
Enjoy a performance by the Youth Orchestra beginning at 2:20 PM.
Adults: $29-$59*
Students: $15* (ID required)
Under 18: FREE (with adult ticket purchase)
*Additional fees apply.
Program subject to change.
Meet the Soloist & Composer in Attendance
Christian Li, pianist
Known for his creativity and versatility, pianist Christian Li has been a mainstay of the New York City music scene for the past decade. Growing up in the town of Horseheads, NY, Christian discovered jazz through his middle school's saxophone ensemble and soon after began gigging around town. He attended the Berklee College of music on a full scholarship, where he studied and performed with a wide variety of artists including Danilo Perez, Ben Street, Joe Lovano, and John Patitucci. He went on to receive his master’s degree from New York University, where he studied with Dierdre O’Donohue, Andy Milne, John Scofield, and Chris Potter.
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Christian is highly sought after as a live musician, studio musician, writer, and arranger. He has worked with a wide range of artists, including Kevin Sun, Dave Liebman, Sungazer, Shubh Saran, Siv Jakobsen, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Montell Fish, Andrew Bayer, Orville Peck, Aberdeen, and Alison Shearer. He has performed at several storied venues and festivals including the Newport Jazz Festival, the Panama Jazz Festival, the Monterey Jazz Festival, Glastonbury, the Sydney Opera House, and the Hollywood Bowl.
Christian is currently on faculty at the Berklee College of Music, where he teaches private instruction and performance labs. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member at the New School and at Columbia University.
Avner Finberg, Composer
Avner Finberg is an Israeli American composer and violinist. He performed with the Israeli Philharmonic, The Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, the Tel-Aviv Soloists, and the Ithaca New Music Collective, as well as performing numerous chamber music and solo recitals nationally and internationally. His first original solo album, The Four Seasons of Isolation (2022), was released with Ravello Records and hailed as “intriguing, entertaining and thought-provoking” by Gramophone Magazine. He currently lives in metro Washington, DC, where he teaches violin, Suzuki violin, and composition at the Levine School of Music.
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Finberg holds dual bachelor of music degrees in violin and composition from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, where he also completed a master of music in violin. He went on to earn a master of music in composition from Mannes College and a doctor of musical arts in composition from the Manhattan School of Music.
His compositions have been performed by Meitar Ensemble, ensemble mise-en, The Boston New Music Initiative, Ensemble Platypus Wien, and The Mannes Orchestra, among others. He was a composition fellow at American Opera Project’s Composers and the Voice workshop in 2013-14, and his second opera, The Exagoge, received its premiere run at La Mama Experimental Theatre in New York in April-May 2024.
Concert Repertoire
Welcome
Dances in Freygish by Avner Finberg (12 mins)
The Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky (20 mins) with Christian Li, pianist
Toot Toot Tootie Toot
Dance of the Floreadores
Sugar Rum Cherry
Peanut Brittle Brigade
There's Christmas in the Air arranged by Strommen (6 mins) with Christian Li, pianist
I'll Be Home for Christmas
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Frosty the Snowman
Intermission
The First Nowell by Dan Forrest (6 mins) with the Chorus of the Southern Finger Lakes
In the Bleak Midwinter by Dan Forrest (6 mins) with the Chorus of the Southern Finger Lakes
Angels We Have Heard On High by Dan Forrest (7 mins) with the Chorus of the Southern Finger Lakes
Joy to the World by John Rutter (3 mins) with the Corning Painted Post Choristers
Sogno di Volare by Christopher Tin (4 mins) with the Corning Painted Post Choristers
Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah by G.F. Handel (4 mins) with the Corning Painted Post Choristers and the Chorus of the Southern Finger Lakes
Christmas Carols Sing Along featuring pieces by Finnegan (8 mins)
Jingle Bells, Joy to the World, It Came Upon A Midnight Clear, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, Away In A Manger, Deck the Halls, O Come All Ye Faithful
Sleigh Ride by Anderson (4 mins)
Know Before You Go
Clemens Center
207 Clemens Center Pkwy, Elmira, NY 14901
For specific information on parking and how to get there, visit the Clemens Center website.
You'll receive an email before the performance with everything you need to know, and any special announcements about the show. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions:
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No, tickets are not refundable. However, they are transferrable! Pass your tickets along to a friend if you can't make it to the show.
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Yes, tickets are transferrable. Pass your tickets along to a friend if you can't make it to the show.
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Definitely not! While some of our patrons enjoy dressing up for a night out at the orchestra, it's certainly not a requirement and there is no dress code for any of our performances.
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Run time for the concert is approximately 110 minutes and includes a 15 minute intermission.
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