In its longstanding tradition of ringing in the holiday season with music, the Blue Ridge Orchestra (BRO) will present BRO Revels! 2025: A British Holiday with two concerts this month. On Saturday, December 6, at 3 p.m., the BRO will perform at the First Baptist Church of Weaverville, and on Sunday, December 7, at 3 p.m. the Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church will be the setting for this exploration of festive music from British composers.
The BRO Revels! concert series marks a dedication by the nonprofit orchestra to bringing music to audiences throughout the Western North Carolina region. “The name was chosen as a symbol for celebrating the winter season, the holiday seasons,” says BRO president Deb Kenney. “Last year, December of 2024 following Hurricane Helene, marked the first time in those ten-plus years that we set aside the BRO Revels! theme in favor of concerts titled Finding Home and performed music that was evocative of living through the unprecedented devastation wrought by Helene on our WNC community. I think that returning to our traditional BRO Revels! theme in December of celebrating the winter and holiday seasons provides joy, hope and permission to enjoy the normalcy of this celebration.”
The program features orchestral and chamber works by composers William Walton, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Gustav Holst and others. The performance’s second half brings in the full orchestra, and members of a local choir will contribute their voices for the holiday favorites. Dr. Emily Mariko-Eng is the BRO’s music director.
The BRO’s home venue, Lipinsky Hall at the University of North Carolina-Asheville, is undergoing renovations, allowing the orchestra to take its music to WNC’s communities. Additional concerts this season will be held in Waynesville, Asheville and Fletcher. Visit the website to learn more about the 2025-2026 performances.
The Blue Ridge Orchestra is a volunteer, nonprofit ensemble. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit BlueRidgeOrchestra.org. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for students and free to those ages six and under. The First Baptist Church of Weaverville is located at 63 North Main Street, Weaverville, and the Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church is located at 101 Chapel Lane, Swannanoa.
