For Julia Bonnett, this will truly be a special opportunity.
“There is nothing quite like performing with a full, live orchestra,” Bonnett said. “It is truly magical to hear all the intricacies and nuances involved in a piece of orchestral music. As a vocalist, the power and energy that comes from an orchestra is invigorating. I cannot wait to be on stage with the fantastic Carmel Symphony Orchestra musicians once again to share the holidays with the Carmel community.”
Bonnett, the 2009 Great American Songbook Youth Ambassador, will join Lucas DeBard, the 2015 Songbook Ambassador, as vocalists for CSO’s IU Health Holidays two concerts at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9.
Bonnett, a 2009 Carmel High School graduate, performed with the CSO a few times in 2009 and 2010. This will be DeBard’s CSO debut.
“I am incredibly excited to sing with such a great orchestra,” said DeBard, a Lebanon High School graduate and Indiana University junior. “It isn’t every day that I get to sing with a full symphony orchestra, so as you can imagine I am itching to perform with them.”
Bonnett and DeBard will sing two duets.
“I am thrilled to be working with Lucas on this project,” Bonnett said. “He is a fantastic musician and an enchanting performer. It will be wonderful to share the stage with him once again. I don’t want to give away too much of the program, but I am thrilled to be performing one of my favorite holiday songs, ‘What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?’ While it is not as well-known as, ‘Oh Christmas Tree’ or ‘Deck the Hall,’ it has a beautiful melody, and I love the coyness of the lyrics.”
DeBard will sing his “The Christmas Song,” his favorite.
“It was also written by one of my favorite singers, Mel Torme,” DeBard said. “Getting to sing this song in a performance setting for the first time with the Carmel Symphony is definitely a dream come true.”
In the last month, DeBard has been involved in a show with his a cappella group, Crimson Cadence, the chorus of “It’s a Wonderful Life” at IU Opera Theater and his cabaret show, “I’ll Take Romance,” in Indianapolis.
“I have been incredibly busy with all of those performances along with my school work, but everything I am doing this year I have loved,” DeBard said. “Being that busy is hard but I love all of it. That makes it easier.”
For more, visit carmelsymphony.org.
