The Long Island Philharmonia (LIP) is inviting fans of all ages to join the orchestra for a holiday sing-along on Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Huntington Public Library Station Branch.
This interactive concert, a first for the library, will take place from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Station Community Room, according to the library’s website.
“It’s not your traditional concert where there’s a boundary between the performer and the audience,” said Doug Hoppe, music director and founder of LIP. “Everyone’s having fun together, and that’s the gist of it.”
Hoppe, a Yale graduate who has been performing since his youth, has organized similar community events at senior centers, but this will be his first interactive holiday concert at the Huntington Station library.
Participants are invited to bring their own instruments, though LIP will also provide instruments such as maracas, tambourines, and bells. The concert will feature familiar Christmas and Hanukkah tunes, which will be kept short and repeated to encourage everyone to join in.
There are no rehearsals for the audience, but there doesn’t need to be. Hoppe described the event as “very laid back and relaxed” and emphasized that it’s all about “having fun.”
The performance will have a more intimate setting, with only a small group of orchestra members, rather than a full symphonic ensemble like the one that performed Nov. 16 at St. Francis of Assisi RC Church in Greenlawn.
“We’re aiming for a small group. I would almost call it like chamber music but it’s in the style of a Salvation Army band,” Hoppe said.
Registration for the free concert is available through the library’s website, allowing participants to indicate which instruments they play. This helps Hoppe prepare the appropriate sheet music, though it is not required. He expects the event’s fun, informal spirit to take precedence over logistics.
Depending on interest, the concert could last anywhere from an hour to two—“or until they kick us out,” Hoppe said.
The Long Island Philharmonia has been operating for nearly 10 years as a nonprofit organization, relying on donations to support its mission. The library’s award has helped fund the Dec. 8 event.
“Our budgets are low, so every dollar counts,” Hoppe said, adding that the orchestra aims to “make the best music possible at the most economical cost possible.” The group’s mission includes providing musical opportunities for people with disabilities or those in need.
The orchestra is made up of both student and professional musicians from Long Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and even New Jersey and the Hudson Valley.