The Winston-Salem Symphony Presents Home Alone In Concert
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (November 1, 2023) – A Carolina Christmas, the Winston-Salem Symphony tradition, returns to the R.J. Reynolds Auditorium for its eleventh year in a new form with Home Alone In Concert. The event will feature the full-length film with John Williams’ original score performed live. The modern holiday classic stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin, an 8-year-old troublemaker accidentally left behind when his family leaves for vacation. Hijinx follows as Kevin is forced to protect his home from The Wet Bandits, a pair of bungling burglars.
Home Alone In Concert marks the first time a blockbuster film will be staged live with an orchestra in Winston-Salem. The event occurs on Saturday, November 25, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 26, at 3:00 p.m. at the R.J. Reynolds Auditorium, 301 N. Hawthorne Road, in Winston-Salem. Tickets begin at $29 and are available from the Symphony Box Office at 336-464-0145 or online at wssymphony.org.
Home Alone, starring Macaulay Culkin, is a modern holiday classic filled with clever antics and comical wit that embodies the holiday spirit. Conceived by screenwriter John Hughes while working with Macaulay Culkin on Uncle Buck, Home Alone dominated the box office in 1990, holding a Guinness World Record for 27 years as the highest-grossing live-action comedy in the United States. This comedic gem is known for its hilarious catchphrases and stunts, complemented by John Williams’ enchanting film score from Twentieth Century Fox.
John Williams distinguishes Home Alone with his imaginative and memorable music, capturing the film’s lively nature and the holiday spirit. A prolific composer, Williams boasts five Academy Awards, 51 Oscar nominations, seven British Academy Awards, 23 Grammys, four Golden Globes, and five Emmys. In 2016, he became the first composer to receive the American Film Institute’s 44th Life Achievement Award. His impressive repertoire includes over 100 film scores, such as those for the Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Indiana Jones series, as well as other iconic films like Schindler’s List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws, Jurassic Park, and many more, thanks to his enduring partnership with director Steven Spielberg.
Concert attendees will have a chance to mingle with Santa before the concert and during intermission. Tea & Toast will be onsite selling hot cocoa for families to enjoy before the concert. The Wet Bandits from Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance will be roaming the auditorium looking to cause mischief and pose for photos.
Home Alone In Concert is a sponsored project of the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County and funded through ARPA supported by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners. Generous support for this concert comes from Village Tavern and HCTec. AM Erectors is a sponsor of the Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus.
About Lawrence Loh
Guest conductor Lawrence Loh makes his debut with Home Alone In Concert. As Music Director of Symphoria, the successor to the Syracuse Symphony, Loh has helped to build a 21st-century model of a modern symphony orchestra. As a self-described “Star Wars geek” and film enthusiast, Loh has conducted numerous sold-out John Williams and film music tribute concerts. Loh enjoys conducting film scores and feels that “it is a completely different way to approach the music because the interpretation is already complete, and you have to basically replicate it. My main job is to be clear and absolutely sure of my tempi.” He holds degrees from Yale, University of Rochester, and Indiana University.
About the Winston-Salem Symphony
Proud to be one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded regional orchestras, the Winston-Salem Symphony enters its 76th season with Michelle Merril as the new Music Director. The Symphony seeks to fulfill its “Bring Music to Live” mission by inspiring listeners of all ages throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad with various concerts, education programs, and community engagement initiatives each year.
This concert and the Winston-Salem Symphony are supported by Season Presenting Sponsors Bell, Davis & Pitt, P.A.; Chris and Mike Morykwas; the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County; and the North Carolina Arts Council. Subscriptions and single tickets can be purchased online at wssymphony.org or by calling the Symphony Box Office at 336-464-0145.
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