Wangaratta Symphony Orchestra (WSO) returns to the Alpine MDF Theatre at the WPACC to present their concert 'Hallelujah Christmas' on Sunday, 7 December at 2.30pm.

This concert is a special one-off event, with the WSO performing alongside Melbourne’s Chime Choir.

The repertoire is an uplifting program of traditional and contemporary Christmas favourites, including orchestral classics like ‘O Holy Night’, ‘Once in Royal David’s City’, and the ever-popular ‘Sleigh Ride’ by Leroy Anderson, as well as wonderful Choral works such as ‘Jubilate Deum’, ‘Breath of Heaven’, and the ‘12 Days of Christmas’.

Did you know that the WSO has a significant number of players who work in the medical and allied health fields?

Wangaratta local Anne Turnbull (cello), a part-time nurse in the outpatients’ clinics, has worked for Northeast Health for the past 20 years and comes from a musical family.

Anne’s first music teacher was a cellist and suggested to her parents she could take up the cello.

After four years of cello lessons, she went on to learn the piano for four years.

She continued to play the cello in the local concert band and for musicals, before she married and had a family.

After a 17-year hiatus from playing the cello, Anne returned to playing and learning and enjoys playing cello together with many brilliant musicians in the community, including the WSO.

For the past four years, Anne has loved teaching the cello and has created groups to play music together, including a cello ensemble and string quartet in which they play for the annual palliative care service at Northeast Health and in aged care facilities.

Laura Vincent (flute) is an occupational therapist at Northeast Health.

Laura began piano lessons at age six and picked up flute in high school.

She has been playing flute for about 15 years ongoing, playing in the WSO, the Wangaratta Concert Band, and her church band.

Laura has performed with the World Doctor's Orchestra (as a member of the choir) at the Melbourne Town Hall and Sydney Opera House.

In the Wangaratta Concert Band, she has learnt conducting and regularly conducts the band at events throughout the region.

Andrew Haughton (double bass) works as an anaesthetist.

Andrew’s medical studies were mostly undertaken in Melbourne, but he started as a specialist in Wangaratta in 2000.

He has played piano since childhood and took up learning the double bass after the Wangaratta Jazz Festival eight years ago, saying "it was the competition instrument that year".

The Wangaratta Symphony Orchestra was Andrew’s first experience with collaborative music.

His wife Michelle plays the viola, meaning they can share music together with others.

"For most of us, finding an outlet that is very different from work is hard sometimes," Andrew said.

"Trying to get some time each night, if possible, to practise music allows me personally to disengage from all of the day activity and stress, and focus on the music and technique.

"The welcoming atmosphere of this orchestra is something I advocate strongly to the junior doctors to at least come along to, especially if they haven’t played for some time."

Emma Lang (cello) works as an audiologist in Wangaratta.

She started learning to play the cello at age six and loved it from the very start.

She has played with the Australian Youth Orchestra, where she played alongside others studying in university.

A few years ago, through the Canberra Symphony Orchestra (CSO), Emma collaborated with Kristen Sutcliffe (audiologist and bassoonist with CSO) to do an intimate concert for the hard of hearing.

Nicole Milanko (violin) has been in Wangaratta for two extended stints as part of her registrar training in obstetrics and gynaecology.

Nicole has been playing musical instruments since the age of two, piano being her primary instrument.

She has also been playing violin for 16 years and has been performing with orchestras since year seven and has performed with community orchestras across Victoria, finding new musician ensembles to join in with where life takes her.

WSO are always eager to support new players to join the orchestra.

For more information, reach out to wangsymphonyorchestra@gmail.com.

To secure tickets to 'Hallelujah Christmas!' visit www.wpacc.com.au.