Orchid Isle Orchestra presents a “Christmas Café” concert at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18, at the East Hawaii Cultural Center in Hilo.
Catherine McMichael’s “Café Suite,” featured on the menu, includes four “courses” — “The Goldfinch Rag,” “Only You,” “Sunday Stroll” and “Tango de Teri.”
The suite is written for string orchestra and piano, and includes violin and bass soli.
Guest conductor David MacKenzie will serve that, plus entreés of Claude T. Smith’s “Overture: Our Creed is Our Shield” and an orchestral arrangement of “Danny Boy.”
Jamey Ray created a vocal arrangement of the Irish melody, and Cathy Young, the orchestra’s artistic director, set it for strings.
Music “appetizers” include the first movement of Haydn’s “Quinten Quartet” (played by orchestra members) and other classical and fiddling music provided by Young Music Studio. For dessert, the orchestra invites the audience to sing along with some favorite Christmas carols.
Admission is free, but donations are welcomed. Masks are recommended.
Orchid Isle Orchestra celebrates its 16th year of performing.