Newton Musicians, Dancers To All: 'Let There Be Peace on Earth'

NEWTON, MA — Each year Newton’s New Philharmonia Orchestra and the Boston Ballet School collaborate for a holiday concert that draws people from all over to the First Baptist Church in Newton Centre.

This year the New Phil and the Boston Ballet School had to pivot, like many others amid the pandemic, to create something everyone could enjoy while staying safe.

So, more than 30 musicians recorded "Let There Be Peace on Earth," from their homes. Members of the Boston Ballet School performed a choreographed dance to the music. And then, through the magic of video editing, they put it together for a performance they hope will inspire.

“We didn’t want to let the holiday season go by without this special message of hope for our audience,” said Adrienne Hartzell, executive director of the New Philharmonia Orchestra. “As we all celebrate the holidays in quarantine we need uplifting music in our lives.”

While all performing arts are impacted by the pandemic, with gathering essentially impossible, the New Phil players, under the direction of Principal Conductor Jorge Soto, each took on recording their individual parts in their homes. The Boston Ballet School students, under the leadership of Tamara King danced her choreography, either in small ensembles in their Needham Street studio or from their own homes.

South African soprano Goitsemang Lehoybe provided the vocals, and Francisco Fernandez guided the music and video production, while Igor Burlak from Boston Ballet collaborated with the dance video and editing.

Written by Jill Jackson-Miller and Sy Miller in 1955, “Let There Be Peace on Earth" was written for and sung by the International Children's Choir in Long Beach, California that year. Decades later the song is performed worldwide throughout the year, and particularly during the Christmas season.

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how.