The annual free holiday Concert by the Moore Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) is scheduled at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at Owens Auditorium at Sandhills Community College.

"This concert will provide a special treat for our patrons throughout the Sandhills," says Eric Kopecky, MPO conductor and music director.

"In addition to an extensive program of holiday music the Moore County Choral Society Ensemble will make a guest appearance to perform with the orchestra."

The Philharmonic is teaming with the Boy Scouts of America, Troop No. 223 to sponsor a food drive to help provide resourses for the Coalition for Human Care to support needy families during the holidays.

"If each person attending this great concert would bring just one canned or packaged food item for the drive, it would make a significant contribution towards preparing a healthy holiday meal for some of the less fortunate in the Sandhills," says Michael Warren, Eagle Scout candidate and troop coordinator for this project.

The program includes a variety of some of the most popular holiday music. This concert will have something for everyone from the classics to contemporary music and a delightful work from the movie screen.

"Sleigh Ride," by Mozart was adapted after the Four Seasons classic by Vivaldi to depict a winter ride through the snow complete with sleigh bells. Some of the other classical period works on the program are "Roses de Noel," by Emile Waldeufel, one of the several famous Austrian waltz composers, and "Once in David's City," an anonymous work which is a staple in the holiday concert repertoire.

There will be an array of the most popular contemporary holiday music such as "Christmas Festival" by Leroy Anderson, "March of the Toys," by Victor Herbert, and "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year." Holiday movie buffs, will enjoy the music from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

"We are proud to have the Moore County Choral Society Ensemble as our special guest," says Kopecky.

"The Choral Society has been in existence for many years, performing great vocal music for the Sandhills." One of their numbers is 'Do You Hear What I Hear,' a spectacular arrangement for choir and symphonic orchestra.

This concert will be the second of three Moore Philharmonic Orchestra concerts scheduled at Sandhills Community College during the 08-09 season.

"The fall concert in early November was very successful," says Kopecky. "We look forward to another enthusiastic audience on Dec. 12. Please support our holiday food drive by bringing a canned or package food item to donate to the important work being done by the Coalition for Human Care."

The Moore Philharmonic Orchestra is hosted by Sandhills Community College and is a nonprofit tax deductible organization. The membership includes a diverse group of talented college, high school, middle school and adult musicians from the Sandhills. The primary objective of the MPO is to provide admission-free classical and pop concerts, to support music education through a growing scholarship fund and to participate in community service activities.