The Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center and the Troy University Long School of Music will present a special Holiday Chamber Concert at 7 o’clock tonight at the Cultural Arts Studio in downtown Troy. The concert is a part of the “Concerts at the Studio’ series and is free and open to the public.

The concert will feature the Troy Brass and the Troy-Pike Youth Orchestra.

The Troy Brass is made up of Troy University faculty members and former students.

“This program will feature the Troy Brass performing classics, favorite carols and popular holiday favorites, that will include ‘Holiday Carol Celebration’ and ‘Canadian Brass Christmas,’” said Dr. Jim Zingara, who leads the ‘Concerts at the Studio’ series.

“This is the fifth year that the Troy Brass has performed for this Holiday Concert. We always look forward to it.”

The Troy Brass will share tonight’s program with the Troy-Pike Youth Orchestra and Zingara said to expect a high-energy performance of holiday music from the young musicians.

The Troy-Pike Youth Orchestra is led by Ginger Zingara, who said the members of the youth orchestra have worked extremely hard in preparation for the Holiday Concert.

“The youth orchestra will play ‘Good King Wenceslas,’ ‘Jingle Bells,’ ‘Carol of the Bells’ ‘You’re a Mean One Mister, Grinch’ and ‘The Kings of Christmas,’” Zingara said. “We have three soloist, Nolan Lamar and Soobin Park on cello and Jeremy Lamar on violin. We will join the Troy Brass for the closing number, ‘Christmas Crackers,’ and it’s an audience participation number so it should be a lot of fun.”

The “Concerts in the Studio” events are offered as gifts to the community and hopes are that people will take advantage of the opportunities to hear some really great music.

“We hope everyone will come tonight and celebrate the season with us,” said Wiley White, Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center development director. “The purpose of this concert series is to offer music free to the public and that’s what the Cultural Arts Center is all about.

“These concerts were one of the first events that we offered. Even before the Johnson Center for the Arts opened, we were having arts events here at the Studio and, thanks to Jim Zingara, the concerts have become big events. The last concert all of the chairs were filled and that’s exciting to see.”

White said the first concert at The Cultural Arts Studio was held in a rather primitive setting.

“Back then, we didn’t have heating and had to bring in torpedo heaters that had to be turned off and on so as not to distract from the performances,” she said. “So, we have come a long way as far as the facility and in the interest the concerts generate.”

The “Concerts at the Studio” are favorite events for many patrons of the arts and White is among them.

“This ‘Holiday Concert’ will be even more special because of the season,” White said. “It will be uplifting and filled with the holiday spirit. There’s just something classy about the ‘Concerts in the Studio.’ These concerts lift us up a notch of two because of the quality of the musicians. They also create a strong bond between Troy University and the Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center. This will be a wonderful concert for the holidays and we invite everyone to join us.”

The Cultural Arts Studio is located at 301 East Walnut Street in downtown Troy across the street from the Johnson Center for the Arts (old Troy post office).