Guided by voices: Ronnie Leigh and Maria DeSantis present their award-winning pipes this Friday at the Palace Theatre. MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTO
The legacy of the only priest to have graced the cover of the Syracuse New Times lives
on. Father Joseph Champlin, who championed many causes, probably the
most lasting of which is his Guardian Angel Society, provides the
impetus once again for “Christmas at the Palace with the DeSantis
Orchestra.” The holiday concert takes place Friday, Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.,
at Eastwood’s Palace Theatre, 2384 James St. A portion of the proceeds
benefits the Guardian Angel Society, a scholarship fund started by
Champlin for inner-city youth to attend Catholic schools, including
college.
“When he was sick the first year we were
at the Palace, 2007, he came and he introduced the band and talked
about the society and he stayed for the first act before he had to
leave,” says Maria DeSantis, who sings with the orchestra her father
Mario DeSantis founded in 1947. “That ended up being the last time we
saw him. He means a lot to the orchestra.”
While part of your ticket fee keeps those kids pursuing
an education, another portion provides an evening of holiday music.
“Christmas things are a tradition,” DeSantis says. “We have a
tremendous repertoire of holiday musical arrangements for full
orchestra. Outside of New York and Radio City Music Hall, I can’t name
a band that’s got this level of holiday music accessible to them. We
get our ideas from the artists that are out there—Natalie Cole, Nancy
Wilson, Chicago, Harry Connick Jr.—and create our own versions.”
In addition to the musicians in the orchestra, the show
features vocalists Keith Condon, Ronnie Leigh, Amanda Carnie and
introduces Nicholas Blaney, DeSantis’ cousin and a senior at Liverpool
High School. “He is a fantastic baritone and will be singing Josh
Groban’s version of ‘You Raise Me Up’ and he’ll share a piece called
‘Sing Joy Medley’ with Amanda, who is the cantor at St. Daniel Church.
“Between myself and Ronnie Leigh and Keith Condon, we perform some arrangements of our recordings from the Big Mike’s Christmastime in Syracuse
album {see page 8} and our own arrangements. They’re swinging. They’re
so much fun. The audience has so much enthusiasm for this show, it’s
such a grand thing.”
It helps that the show takes place at
the restored Palace Theatre, which, with its nearly 800 seats, is
becoming a go-to venue for many special events. “This is our third year
at the Palace,” DeSantis says. “It’s really the perfect place. I hope
we don’t outgrow it too soon. It’s a forward stage, meaning it isn’t a
deep stage; we’re right there on top of the audience, which is our
favorite way to perform. It’s a more interactive experience.”
Tickets for Christmas at the Palace cost $15 and can be
purchased by calling the DeSantis office at 488-7611 or the Guardian
Angel Society at 422-8218. Raffle tickets will be available at the
show, which DeSantis touts as a true family event. “I know there are a
billion holiday programs out there, but its true uniqueness is the
variety of the music, inspirational, religious and secular,” she says.
“I think the show has such a spirit because it’s truly reminiscent of
my father’s days at musical director with the Pompeian Players shows
with full orchestra.”
