Penning sings in the season

Soprano reunites with LSO for a holiday pops concert

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Vocalist Diane Penning has a Christmas party to plan forher husband, three sons and 35 of their closest family members. But notuntil she sings with three Michigan orchestras at their holiday popsconcerts.

Penning makes a stop at the Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra on Sunday.

The Grand Rapids native has a bachelor’s in music andvoice from the University of Michigan and a master’s of music degree invoice performance from Western Michigan University. She teaches privatelessons and is an adjunct voice instructor at Grand Rapids CommunityCollege, but she never turns down the chance to perform.

“I fit very well into the niche of holiday pops,” Penningsaid. “The shows are very eclectic. There are some classical selectionsand some more standard, popular ones.”

This year, the audience will hear her renditions of “OHoly Night,” “I Wonder as I Wander,” “Silver Bells,” “It’s Beginning toLook a Lot Like Christmas” and two versions of “Ave Maria.” 

“With the Christmas pop tunes, I can get so carriedaway,” she admitted. “They bring back so many memories (for theaudience). They encapsulate family and traditions, and it’s reallyrewarding to bring people to that.”

But she can’t help but include some less-seasonal tunes.

“Classical music gives me an opportunity to show everything I’ve trained for,” she said.

“It’s definitely more difficult and challenging. Youreally have to lay it on the line and give it everything you’ve got. Ialways try to throw in something classical because I really enjoysinging that genre.”

She performed at the Lansing holiday pops series in 2008.

“The orchestra, of course, is wonderful — top-notch. Iwork with lots of different conductors, but I particularly enjoyworking with (Timothy Muffitt). He makes (me) feel very comfortable andat ease.”

This year’s performance will also feature high schoolstudent musicians in a performance of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s“Nutcracker Suite.”

Also featured is cellist Isabel Kwon, a student at OkemosHigh School and winner of this year’s Symphony Youth Competition. Kwonwill be performing Antonin Dvorak’s “Silent Woods.”


Lansing Symphony Orchestra and Diane Penning: Holiday Pops

3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11

Cobb Great Hall,

Wharton Center

$15-$40

(517) 487-5001

www.lansingsymphony.org

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